Rise of Fax Technology
Through a number inventions in the late 1800s and early 1900s, different methods that were an improvement of Caselli’s technology emerged.
Shelford Bidwell is credited with using selenium cells connected to a telephone to send an image to a rotating cylinder. Bidwell called the results “Tele-Photography” as quoted in Nature’s 1881 edition, and later was able to relatively accurately estimate the bandwidth and circuitry needed to send and receive images.
Edouard Belin is credited with the invention of the Bélinographe – an invention that was able to measure the intensity of light, impressing the image onto photographic paper. This technology was quite similar to modern photocopiers that use a CCC and laser technology to imprint an image. This invention was capable of sending photographs to remote locations across telephone and telegraph networks already in existance.
The Teleautograph emerged as a way of sending signatures across distances. Signatures have always been a way of verifying ownership of a bank account and other identification, and the teleautograph was built to solve the problem of signatures and distance. Teleautographs existed up until more recent times, with the Teleautograph Corporation bein acquired by a number of companies up to it was purchased by Xerox in 1999.