I always enjoy discovering period industrial films explaining then cutting-edge technologies–how to process Technicolor film, how to record and press 78 RPM records etc. Above I’ve posted a 1937 mini-doc explaining the process by which a radio show transmits from the studio to homes across the country. It’s quite niftily done and I even sort of almost understand what they’re talking about. I don’t know if radio transmission still works along these basic principles but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it did; airplanes still fly using the same principles, with the same basic instruments and rules of flight as they’ve been doing for over a hundred years. There’s always a sense of genuine and enthusiastic wonder in these older demonstration films–the technology was new and its sophistication was something to be proud of. Now, of course, we don’t think in such terms. Have you ever wondered how Siri seems to know exactly where you are and how to give you proper directions to where you’re going? For some reason the answer (for me) is ‘no’. I merely depend on the technology and feel no special pride in it. There must be a similar film about satellite technology and GPS explained in under ten minutes–or is there? I don’t know. I haven’t searched for one but If I do I’ll think about posting it before deciding not to since the technology isn’t at least seventy years old…