Rise of Wireless Awareness
By the early 1900s, wireless technology captured the public’s imagination through media coverage, technological breakthroughs, and maritime applications.
Media and Fiction’s Role
Magazines, plays, and movies highlighted wireless as a miraculous tool, blending real uses with romanticized narratives, which contributed to public overconfidence in its capabilities.
Influential Rescues
Early rescues involving wireless, such as the RMS Republic incident, amplified public perception of wireless as a reliable lifesaving technology.
Public Misconceptions
Popular culture created unrealistic assumptions about wireless reliability, leaving the public unprepared for the Titanic’s tragic failure in communication.
Impact of Disaster on Perception
The Titanic disaster shattered illusions about wireless, exposing gaps in maritime safety regulations and system efficacy.
Legacy of Misinformation
The merging of fiction and fact in the wireless narrative set expectations that outpaced the actual technology, impacting regulatory and public attitudes toward maritime communication.
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Citation:
Alexander B. Magoun (2016) What the Public Knew About Wireless Before Titanic, Proceedings of the IEEE, Vol. 104, No. 8
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