It’s funny to consider that briefly before the electric telegraph, the French developed a system based on people stationed in chains of towers with telescopes signalling to each other. This strikes me as an idea behind its time.
EDIT: On further research (meaning, reading Wikipedia articles) it seems optical and hydraulic telegraphs were attempted in various places, including 4th century Greece and 9th century Turkey (Byzantium) so it seems this is not so behind its time.
It’s funny to consider that briefly before the electric telegraph, the French developed a system based on people stationed in chains of towers with telescopes signalling to each other. This strikes me as an idea behind its time.
EDIT: On further research (meaning, reading Wikipedia articles) it seems optical and hydraulic telegraphs were attempted in various places, including 4th century Greece and 9th century Turkey (Byzantium) so it seems this is not so behind its time.