The Invention of the Radio Broadcast

An illustrated inventions story from Wonder Inventions — free to read, with narration.

The Invention of the Radio Broadcast — an illustrated inventions story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.

The Invention of the Radio Broadcast — book cover — Wonder Inventions
The Invention of the Radio Broadcast — an illustrated inventions story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.

Page 1

"Yuto, turn on the comm-screen so we can video-chat with Grandma!" Riku called from the kitchen, the scent of algae-cakes filling the air.
"Yuto, turn on the comm-screen so we can video-chat with Grandma!" Riku called from the kitchen, the scent of algae-cakes filling the air. Yuto paused his hoverboard repairs. "Why do we call them 'comm-screens,' anyway? It's not like they're new!" He grabbed his worn leather notebook, a spark of curiosity in his eyes. "I wonder how people even talked to each other before these existed? Who even invented the radio broadcast that made them possible?"

"Yuto, turn on the comm-screen so we can video-chat with Grandma!" Riku called from the kitchen, the scent of algae-cakes filling the air. Yuto paused his hoverboard repairs. "Why do we call them 'comm-screens,' anyway? It's not like they're new!" He grabbed his worn leather notebook, a spark of curiosity in his eyes. "I wonder how people even talked to each other before these existed? Who even invented the radio broadcast that made them possible?"

Page 2

Yuto raced to his room, dodging a robotic cleaning drone. He scrambled for the glowing book on his shelf. Dust motes danced in the air as he heaved the heavy…
Yuto raced to his room, dodging a robotic cleaning drone. He scrambled for the glowing book on his shelf. Dust motes danced in the air as he heaved the heavy volume open. "The Magical Invention Encyclopedia will surely have the answer!" He flipped through the crackling pages. Suddenly, the room began to spin, bathing him in a kaleidoscope of light.

Yuto raced to his room, dodging a robotic cleaning drone. He scrambled for the glowing book on his shelf. Dust motes danced in the air as he heaved the heavy volume open. "The Magical Invention Encyclopedia will surely have the answer!" He flipped through the crackling pages. Suddenly, the room began to spin, bathing him in a kaleidoscope of light.

Page 3

The spinning stopped, and Yuto stumbled, his head swimming. He looked around, bewildered. Gone were the neon towers and flying vehicles.
The spinning stopped, and Yuto stumbled, his head swimming. He looked around, bewildered. Gone were the neon towers and flying vehicles. Instead, horse-drawn carriages clattered on cobblestone streets. "Where am I?" he wondered. He noted the date flickering in the corner of his notebook — 1906.

The spinning stopped, and Yuto stumbled, his head swimming. He looked around, bewildered. Gone were the neon towers and flying vehicles. Instead, horse-drawn carriages clattered on cobblestone streets. "Where am I?" he wondered. He noted the date flickering in the corner of his notebook — 1906.

Page 4

A girl with thick, dark brown hair and glasses bumped into him, dropping a stack of papers. "Oh, excuse me!" she exclaimed.
A girl with thick, dark brown hair and glasses bumped into him, dropping a stack of papers. "Oh, excuse me!" she exclaimed. "These are important documents for Professor Fessenden!" Yuto helped her gather the scattered sheets. He noticed the title: 'High-Frequency Alternator for Wireless Telephony.'

A girl with thick, dark brown hair and glasses bumped into him, dropping a stack of papers. "Oh, excuse me!" she exclaimed. "These are important documents for Professor Fessenden!" Yuto helped her gather the scattered sheets. He noticed the title: 'High-Frequency Alternator for Wireless Telephony.'

Page 5

"Fessenden? Reginald Fessenden? The guy who was trying to transmit human voice over the airwaves?" Yuto asked, his eyes wide. Anaya nodded eagerly.
"Fessenden? Reginald Fessenden? The guy who was trying to transmit human voice over the airwaves?" Yuto asked, his eyes wide. Anaya nodded eagerly. "He's brilliant! He believes wireless communication could connect the world. But he's facing so many setbacks. He needs a high-frequency alternator to make it work!" she explained, gesturing with the recovered papers.

"Fessenden? Reginald Fessenden? The guy who was trying to transmit human voice over the airwaves?" Yuto asked, his eyes wide. Anaya nodded eagerly. "He's brilliant! He believes wireless communication could connect the world. But he's facing so many setbacks. He needs a high-frequency alternator to make it work!" she explained, gesturing with the recovered papers.

Page 6

Anaya led Yuto to a cluttered workshop filled with wires, tubes, and half-assembled devices. A man with a focused expression tinkered with a large machine.
Anaya led Yuto to a cluttered workshop filled with wires, tubes, and half-assembled devices. A man with a focused expression tinkered with a large machine. "Professor Fessenden, this is... a friend," Anaya said, introducing Yuto. Fessenden looked up, wiping his brow. "We're on the cusp of something revolutionary! On Christmas Eve, we're going to attempt the first-ever public radio broadcast!

Anaya led Yuto to a cluttered workshop filled with wires, tubes, and half-assembled devices. A man with a focused expression tinkered with a large machine. "Professor Fessenden, this is... a friend," Anaya said, introducing Yuto. Fessenden looked up, wiping his brow. "We're on the cusp of something revolutionary! On Christmas Eve, we're going to attempt the first-ever public radio broadcast!

Page 7

"But," Fessenden continued, frowning, "my alternator is acting up. It needs to generate a continuous radio wave for audio transmission, and it keeps sputtering!
"But," Fessenden continued, frowning, "my alternator is acting up. It needs to generate a continuous radio wave for audio transmission, and it keeps sputtering! If it fails, the whole broadcast will be silent!" Yuto remembered something from the encyclopedia. "Didn't you initially struggle to get enough power and that's why you needed to use the Fessenden alternator?" Yuto asked. Fessenden stared at him, impressed. "Yes! The alternator can help transmit audio waves!"

"But," Fessenden continued, frowning, "my alternator is acting up. It needs to generate a continuous radio wave for audio transmission, and it keeps sputtering! If it fails, the whole broadcast will be silent!" Yuto remembered something from the encyclopedia. "Didn't you initially struggle to get enough power and that's why you needed to use the Fessenden alternator?" Yuto asked. Fessenden stared at him, impressed. "Yes! The alternator can help transmit audio waves!"

Page 8

That Christmas Eve, Yuto, Anaya, and Fessenden stood in the transmitting room. The alternator hummed, then sputtered violently, smoke billowing from its vents.
That Christmas Eve, Yuto, Anaya, and Fessenden stood in the transmitting room. The alternator hummed, then sputtered violently, smoke billowing from its vents. Fessenden sighed. "It's no use! It's going to fail!" But then, remembering something from the workshop, he yelled, "We must use 'what we have, not what we wish we had,' as Seneca said. The old spark-gap transmitter! It won't be as clear, but it might just work to transmit!"

That Christmas Eve, Yuto, Anaya, and Fessenden stood in the transmitting room. The alternator hummed, then sputtered violently, smoke billowing from its vents. Fessenden sighed. "It's no use! It's going to fail!" But then, remembering something from the workshop, he yelled, "We must use 'what we have, not what we wish we had,' as Seneca said. The old spark-gap transmitter! It won't be as clear, but it might just work to transmit!"

Page 9

Fessenden switched on the spark-gap transmitter. Static crackled through the airwaves. Then, faintly but clearly, came the sound of his voice reading a passage…
Fessenden switched on the spark-gap transmitter. Static crackled through the airwaves. Then, faintly but clearly, came the sound of his voice reading a passage from the Bible, followed by a violin playing 'O Holy Night.' Sailors on ships miles away heard it, their eyes wide with astonishment. A new era of communication had begun.

Fessenden switched on the spark-gap transmitter. Static crackled through the airwaves. Then, faintly but clearly, came the sound of his voice reading a passage from the Bible, followed by a violin playing 'O Holy Night.' Sailors on ships miles away heard it, their eyes wide with astonishment. A new era of communication had begun.

Page 10

Suddenly, Yuto was back in his room, the Encyclopedia closed in his hands. He raced to the kitchen. "Riku! I just saw Reginald Fessenden make the first radio…
Suddenly, Yuto was back in his room, the Encyclopedia closed in his hands. He raced to the kitchen. "Riku! I just saw Reginald Fessenden make the first radio broadcast in 1906! He used a spark-gap transmitter because his alternator broke! And it went worldwide! Now, the broadcasting and cable industry is worth more than 700 Billion dollars!" Riku smiled. "That's amazing, Yuto!

Suddenly, Yuto was back in his room, the Encyclopedia closed in his hands. He raced to the kitchen. "Riku! I just saw Reginald Fessenden make the first radio broadcast in 1906! He used a spark-gap transmitter because his alternator broke! And it went worldwide! Now, the broadcasting and cable industry is worth more than 700 Billion dollars!" Riku smiled. "That's amazing, Yuto! So, next time, when you use the comm-screen, think of the first radio broadcast that started it all!"

About this story

  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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