Final answer:
The first wireless communication across the Atlantic Ocean was successfully completed in 1901 by Guglielmo Marconi. This marked a significant advancement in communication technology, leading to the development of commercial radio broadcasting in the 1920s.
Step-by-step explanation:
The First Wireless Communication Across the Atlantic
The first wireless communication across the Atlantic Ocean took place in 1901. This historic event was the result of the work done by Italian engineer Guglielmo Marconi, who successfully transmitted a wireless signal from Wales in Great Britain to Newfoundland, Canada. By doing so, Marconi paved the way for the future of wireless communications, laying the foundation for modern radio technology. Before this, significant efforts had been made to connect the continents via undersea cables, with the first successful transatlantic telegraph cable completed in 1866. Though initially telegraphy dominated, the advent of wireless communication marked a pivotal shift in how information was transmitted across long distances.
In 1920, the development of the vacuum tube and the triode significantly boosted radio technology, leading to commercial radio broadcasts that provided news, music, and entertainment to the masses. This period saw the flourishing of communications technology that radically changed personal and commercial connectivity.