Hello Central?: Gender, Technology, and Culture in the Formation of Telephone Systems

Rating:
Summary: Surprise, surprise.
Review: It was by chance that I came acrosss this book, since I was looking for a book on Telecommunications. I ended up reading this book more than the one I originally planned to read.
Michele Martin's book is an easy read and easily accessible, even for one who is not too familiar with the telephone technology.

At times I found myself laughing at how the telephone was used during the early years of its development (askign operators for the time, learning about sports scores, shopping, and group chats). It's as if she was describing how we currently use cell phones and the internet for that matter.

What's also interesting was how she used the feminist framework to dissect the development of the telephone. It was obviously well-researched, and full of amusing anecdotes.

If you want to be entertained and at the same time learn about gender and technology, this is the book you should have.

Rating:
Summary: Surprise, surprise.
Review: It was by chance that I came acrosss this book, since I was looking for a book on Telecommunications. I ended up reading this book more than the one I originally planned to read.
Michele Martin's book is an easy read and easily accessible, even for one who is not too familiar with the telephone technology.

At times I found myself laughing at how the telephone was used during the early years of its development (askign operators for the time, learning about sports scores, shopping, and group chats). It's as if she was describing how we currently use cell phones and the internet for that matter.

What's also interesting was how she used the feminist framework to dissect the development of the telephone. It was obviously well-researched, and full of amusing anecdotes.

If you want to be entertained and at the same time learn about gender and technology, this is the book you should have.