Final answer:
The Telharmonium was an early electrical musical instrument that paved the way for modern synthesizers. However, it was short-lived due to its size, cost, limited accessibility, and competition from other instruments and recording technology.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Telharmonium was an early electrical musical instrument invented by Thaddeus Cahill in the late 19th century. It was a precursor to modern electronic synthesizers. In terms of modern technologies that can be related to the Telharmonium, the most obvious one is the synthesizer. Like the Telharmonium, synthesizers generate sound electronically using voltage-controlled oscillators. However, synthesizers have advanced significantly since the Telharmonium and now have many more features and capabilities.
The Telharmonium was short-lived for several reasons. Firstly, it was incredibly large and expensive, making it impractical for widespread use. Secondly, it required a direct electrical connection to each location, which limited its accessibility. Lastly, the Telharmonium faced competition from smaller and more portable instruments as well as advancements in recording technology.