A revolution in communication

This technique of loading message onto paper tape became the basis for the tape used by early computers to record data.Describing the speed of the communication as ‘almost inconceivable’, Dr Copleston correctly predicted that work by Charles Wheatstone, King’s first Professor of Experimental Philosophy, was ‘destined to work an incalculable change in human affairs’.

Faster than human transport

For the first time, Wheatstone’s electric telegraph enabled messages to travel faster than any kind of human transport, inaugurating a revolution in information technology. Later, he developed a way of increasing the speed of the telegraph from 10 to 100 words a minute. This technique of loading message onto paper tape became the basis for the tape used by early computers to record data.

Professor Charles Wheatstone

Whilst at King’s, Professor Wheatstone carried out other ground-breaking work on harmonics, invented the concertina, and designed and named the first ‘stereoscope’ for 3D photography. His legacy continues on at King’s, where the  Centre for Telecommunications Research in the Department of Informatics continues to make major contributions today.

Impact on 3D and virtual reality technology

Most recently, Queen guitarist Dr Brian May, a collector of stereoscopic photography, spoke at the Arts and Humanities Festival at King’s, describing the impact of Professor Wheatstone’s work on 3D and VR technology.

Wheatstone was a Professor at King’s until his death in 1875, upon which he left his collection of nearly 2,000 books, scientific papers and instruments to the university.

The Wheatstone collection, along with many other valuable historical collections relating to science, technology and medicine, can be consulted by researchers, students and the public through King's Archives.

Learn more about the career of Wheatstone in the Archives’ online exhibition.

3D photograph of Wheatstone and his family courtesy of King’s collections.