Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-03
A WONDERFUL INVENTION.
The Photograph as a RepOrter-A
Rival TO the Photographers.

The Photograph as a Reporter-A
Rival TO the Photographers.
WASHINGTON, May 3O.-Some electri-
clans in this city have been at work for
several months TO perfect a photograph
which can be used with such accuracy
as to be an aid in reporting with precIs-
ion the proceedings of courts and public
assemblies. 1t is said that a state OF per-
fectIOn has already been attained which
will warrant the Introduction of this in
strument in courts Of Justice. When the
photograph is perfected it will be great
assistance to stenographic reporters in
one way, and great rival and hindrance
in another. One of the machines can be
taken into court, for instance, and
all OF the proceedings will be recorded by
it. At the close of the day it can be car
ried to a room and gagged to talk at any
rate OF speed, at 80 words minute for in
stance, which can be written out by an
ordinary longhand writer. If lit is desired
to get the proceedings transcribed as fast
as they occur new cylinders are put in
the photograph as fast as the proceedings
are written out. For instance, the long
hand writer's can put In cylinder and
let il remain ten minutes; then take it out
and put in another and transfer the cylin-
der which has the proceedings upon it TO
another instrument, and it is made to re-
peat the proceedings with accuracy, and
at the expiration of It's term is replaced in
the photograph and the other cylinder
taxed from il, and so on. One of the
great difficulties the scientists have en-
cOuntered is in securing the distinction Of
tone in voices. Heretofore the phone.
graph has not been sufficiently distinct to
enable a person to distinguish one voice
from another, il they are similar in volume
. a ~ -
] the instrument will be perfected within q
( short time so that anyone who has heard
"a number of voices in room can readily
| distinguish them from the sounds the
! photograph will give out. 1t is the dis
! tinguishing OF one voice from another
which gives the names OF the speakers.
| For instance, If the photograph is used
/ To record the proceedings OF legislature.
/ IL will not, of course, have the names OF
/ the persons participating In debate, and
/ the persons translating from the re-
| cord Of the phonograpn will have
| TO place the speakers by the tones
/ of their voices. 1t is said that some
/ OF the official reporters intend trying the
/ photograph within "A short time, and do
| terminng how IL will operate in public
| debates. Should il fail, they will have
the proceedings by the usual methods,
/ and no risk VIII be run. When the phOnO-
/ graph is perfected, the stenographers in
tend to use IL in their work as a safe
/ guard. BY its assistance they will be
/ enabled to have everything that is said in
the room, and a number OF persons speak
ing at one time and the rapidly of their
/ speech Will be no inconvenience, as the
/ photograph will catch everything that Is
said. 1t Will be of more use rs an amanu-
ensis than anything else, enabling one TO
dictate any amount Of espondence 10
the machine, and leaving IL so that any
one can transcribe IL, because the ma
chine can be set 10 repeat the dictatiOn at
| any rate OF speed.