From Morse code to Zoom Messaging, a lifetime journey

How far we have come in communications

I recently visited my 96 year old uncle to pay my respects and swap a few stories.
Noel Lives on his own in an ancient cottage with a huge garden area to keep him busy.

On this day he had a small problem with his computer and wondered if I would check it out, He had lost sound on the music videos. New computer the latest versions with all the bells installed.
I casually asked where he got his internet connection and he showed me the new IPhone and hot spot linking. Worked just fine for him.
I Found a loose cable and fixed the problem so all was good.

We started chatting about life in generally.
When he first started work it was as a telegram boy at the Post Office. However, to get the job you had to use and understand Morse code.
When the War arrived some time after this new career he enlisted in the Forces to become a signals' operator with the Navy. This career was cut short when they found out he was underage and had got in with a false birth date.
He then did engineering at the Railways through to retirement.

Noel has four daughters a son and a whole host of grand kids to keep up with.

He now has a Zoom meeting with the girls every evening to discuss the days events and for them to ensure he is OK, as a side benefit.

It still amazes me how far we have come over the past years when a Telegram boy using Morse Code to get the message and riding a push-bike to deliver the written transcript to a customer is still with us today but;

No Morse code anymore , no telegrams and No pushbike posties.

However some things never change Noel still rides his pushbike ( now electric) but with his I.phone 10 in the pocket in case he has a tumble.

For more Uncle Noel stories

Regards

Peter Hanley