Table of Contents

1 Half-title; 2 Title; 4 Imprint; 5 Contents; 6 Foreword; 7 Chapter one opener: Face to Face; 8 Animal communication; 10 Communication without words; 12 Language and Speech; 14 Before alphabets; 16 Summary of chapter one; 17 Chapter two opener: From Me to You; 18 Alphabets and writing; 20 Messengers, runners and pigeons; 22 Postal systems; 24 Long distance signalling; 26 Electric telegraph; 28 Telephones; 30 Summary of chapter two; 31 Chapter three opener: Spreading the Word; 32 Printing; 34 Newspapers, magazines and books; 36 Photography; 38 Sound recording; 40 Film; 42 Radio; 44 Television; 46 Video and DVD; 48 Summary of chapter three; 49 Chapter four opener: The Global Village; 50 Satellites; 52 Computers and the Web; 54 Merging media; 56 Advertising; 58 Secrecy and censorship; 59 Summary of chapter four; 60 Glossary; 62 Index; 64 Acknowledgements

About the Author

Richard Platt has written more than 30 books, and has been writing for children since 1992. Richard has a special interest in technology and its history - he has written books on inventions and space travel - but not to the exclusion of other topics. Indeed, he enjoys writing children's titles precisely because of the variety this work provides. Non-scientific themes he has covered in the past include smuggling, pirates, castles, espionage, carnivorous plants and natural disasters. One of his most recent titles was shortlisted for the Kate Maschler Award, The Times Education Supplement award, a History Today prize, and a Blue Peter book award. His latest title won the Kate Greenaway Medal 2002 and the silver Smarties Award 2002. His latest book for Kingfisher is the fascinating Eureka! (2003). Richard's recent work includes presenting parts of a series on smuggling for TV. He lives in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. In 1985, Vodafone hosted the first ever mobile call in the UK, and it has continued to innovate in the world of telecommunications ever since. Their chairman, Lord MacLaurin, needs little introduction. Before he joined the world of Vodafone, he was chairman of Tesco plc. In addition to this, Lord MacLaurin is the patron of I Can - a charity that helps children who have not developed adequate communication skills in their formative years.