Archaeology of Communications
How communications technology has changed our lives from the Industrial Revolution to the present day.
Saturday 3rd March 2012, 9:15 am to 5:00pm
MediaCityUK, University of Salford Building
Organised by the Computer Networking and Telecommunications Research Centre and the Centre for Applied Archaeology at the University of Salford.
Part of the Manchester Histories Festival (24th February to 4th March 2012)
Sponsored by:
The exciting new development at MediaCityUK in Salford marks the latest transformation of this important area. With the creation of the Manchester Ship Canal this part of Salford became the famous Salford and Pomona Docks, a thriving inland port feeding the world’s first planned, and Europe’s largest, industrial estate at Trafford Park. Now in the 21st Century, the area has further evolved to become a national centre for the digital media and broadcasting industries through the creation of MediaCityUK. This evolution reflects how technology and in particular, technology that allows us to communicate with one another, has and continues to transform our lives and the landscape in which we live. The canals of the early industrial revolution not only enabled goods and people to move more quickly between major cities but they helped those very cities grow and become what they are today. The railways were the catalyst to develop a means of communicating using electricity and from these early telegraphs emerged the telephone. Printing presses and a transportation network heralded the arrival of mass communications which was further expanded through radio and television. Computers and digital communications have brought us the Internet, World Wide Web and mobile phones. But what evidence remains of this evolution?
This conference is aimed at a general public audience and will examine the archaeological impact of communications technology from early canals to today's digital revolution.
Registration fee = £25 per person (includes refreshments, buffet lunch and delegate pack)
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Programme:
(registration from 9:15am until 10:00am, first talk begins at 10:00am)
| Welcome | Professor Martin Hall, Vice Chancellor, University of Salford |
| Turnpikes, Canals and Railways | Mike Nevell, Director, Centre of Applied Archaeology, University of Salford |
| Telegraphy and Telephones | John Liffen, Curator, Science Museum, London |
| Manchester: Mass Media Hub? | Pauline Webb, Curator, Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester |
| Air and Sea Communications | Eric Grove, Professor of Naval History, University of Salford |
| Military Communications | Wayne Cocroft, Senior Archaeological Investigator, English Heritage |
| The Digital Age | Nigel Linge, Professor of Telecommunications, University of Salford |
In association with:
