Who Did It First?

IN 1973, Dr. Martin Cooper was the first to demonstrate a handheld cellular telephone. It had a battery, a radio, and a microprocessor (a minicomputer). New Yorkers gaped in amazement when they saw Cooper making a phone call on the street. But the invention was possible only because back in 1800, Alessandro Volta had invented a reliable battery. In addition, the telephone had been developed by 1876, the radio by 1895, and the computer by 1946. Finally, the invention of the microprocessor in 1971 made cell phones possible.

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1800

Reliable battery

1876

Telephone

1971

Microprocessor

1973

Dr. Martin Cooper develops the mobile telephone

[Credit Line]

Dr. Cooper and mobile phone: © Mark Berry