This was written during 1877 about his
phonograph. The same might be said about social apps and smart
phones today.
“He has been addicted
to electricity for many years,” the phonograph, with its ability
to record speech, “will eventually destroy all confidence
between man and man.”
Another paper of the
time outlined ways phonographic technology might go wrong:
greedy thieves might trick elderly millionaires into vocally
amending their wills; sketchy neighbors might use opera
recordings to lure women out of their homes; and wives might
frighten their husbands out of sleep by playing a tape that
yells “POLICE! FIRE!” over and over again. Editorial
fear-mongering has not changed much during the past 140
years.
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