EOTO: What I Learned

 During the EOTO presentations, one invention really stuck out to me. The United States Postal Service has a long history that had never once crossed my mind, until the information was presented upon me. The US Postal Service was a monumental step for technology.

I learned that Benjamin Franklin was appointed the first postmaster general in 1917. According to Nicole Kelly, a fellow student in the class, "The only communication between the American Colonies was mail being transported by horseback riders on the old dirt roads. In 1775, three months after the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which began the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin to establish a national post service as the first Postmaster General."

In 1847, the first postage stamps were introduced, which allowed for prepayment of postage and helped to streamline the mailing process. The introduction of the telegraph in the mid-19th century also had an impact on the USPS, as it allowed for faster communication between post offices and facilitated the transmission of important messages.

The USPS revolutionized communication by providing a reliable and affordable means of delivering mail and packages across vast distances. Before the USPS, people had to rely on private couriers or simply hope that their letter would be carried by someone who happened to be going in the right direction. The USPS, established in 1775, standardized the postal system and made it accessible to everyone, regardless of social or economic status.

The USPS was also instrumental in the development of transportation infrastructure in the United States. In order to deliver mail to every corner of the country, the USPS had to build roads, bridges, and other infrastructure that connected remote communities to the rest of the country. This infrastructure not only facilitated mail delivery but also enabled the movement of people and goods, which was essential for the growth of commerce and industry in the United States.

The USPS has been a pioneer in the use of technology to improve its operations. The USPS was one of the first organizations to adopt electronic communication and data processing technologies, which enabled it to handle large volumes of mail and packages more efficiently. In recent years, the USPS has continued to innovate, using advanced tracking systems and mobile technologies to provide real-time package tracking and delivery updates to customers.

The USPS continued to evolve throughout the 20th century, introducing new technologies such as the postal truck and automated sorting machines. However, the rise of email and other digital communication in the late 20th and early 21st centuries has presented new challenges for the USPS, as mail volume has declined while package delivery has increased.

Despite these challenges, the USPS remains an essential part of American infrastructure, providing affordable and reliable mail and package delivery services to millions of people every day.