# Invention of the telephone **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 13, 2025, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invention-of-the-telephone/1015525 "2025-03-13T13:03:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2025, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invention-of-the-telephone/1015525/161 "2025-03-26T14:38:09Z")
But do people need telephone sanitizers? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2025, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invention-of-the-telephone/1015525/162 "2025-03-26T15:15:13Z")
I’m reminded of a spoof vid from the very beginnings of smart-ish phones back when they were flip-phones with little 1/2" nub antennas sticking up from one corner. In the vid, purportedly an ad for a phone from the not-too-distant future, this miracle of modern tech has become a do-all device for all sorts of non-phoning purposes, which the actor demonstrates. It dices, it slices, it makes Julienne fries! It’s even a rectal thermometer using the antenna nub as the probe. I think a telephone sanitizer might be just the thing after that. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2025, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invention-of-the-telephone/1015525/163 "2025-03-26T15:33:38Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > But do people need telephone sanitizers? Since we are all descended from Golgafrinchen telephone sanitizers, and taking into account the fate of Golgafrincham, the answer is obviously yes. Of course what we need is sanitization of the virulent diseases coming through the phones, not on the phones themselves. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2025, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invention-of-the-telephone/1015525/164 "2025-03-26T15:38:18Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > One way Bell tested aircraft engines was by attaching them to boats which led to him to build _The Ugly Duckling_ in 1905 which is credited as the first airboat. > > [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airboat#History](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airboat#History) Interesting. I recall some mention of Bell and boats but didn’t realize he came up with a real innovation in the airboat. Not great results in this case but the concept did continue on from there and is very useful in traversing swamps and the same principle is used in hovercraft. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2025, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invention-of-the-telephone/1015525/165 "2025-03-26T16:51:04Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I recall some mention of Bell and boats but didn’t realize he came up with a real innovation in the airboat. His team’s hydrofoil HD-4 had the world speed record on water (70 mph) at one point. > **[HD-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD-4)** > > HD-4 or Hydrodome number 4 was an early research hydrofoil watercraft developed by the scientist Alexander Graham Bell. It was designed and built at the Bell Boatyard on Bell's Beinn Bhreagh estate near Baddeck, Nova Scotia. In 1919, it set a world marine speed record of 70.86 miles per hour (114.04 km/h). > The March 1906 Scientific American article by American pioneer William E. Meacham, explained the basic principle of hydrofoils and hydroplanes. Bell considered the invention of the hydroplane ... ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2025, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invention-of-the-telephone/1015525/166 "2025-03-26T17:26:32Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > His team’s hydrofoil HD-4 had the world speed record on water (70 mph) at one point. > [HD-4 - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD-4) That record later reached 317MPH and since then everyone attempting to break that record has died in the effort, as did several before the current record was set. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invention-of-the-telephone/1015525/167 "2025-04-06T01:19:21Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > But do people need telephone sanitizers? Golgafrinchans aside, nobody needs telephone sanitizers—because, nobody uses actual telephones anymore. That’s ancient history. But _smartphones_? Whole different story. We practically glue those [bacteria-laced petri dishes](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-14118-9?utm) to our faces. They’re crawling with more germs than a public toilet, yet we cradle them to our cheek like newborns. So yeah, smartphone sanitizers aren’t just smart—it’s civic hygiene 101. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invention-of-the-telephone/1015525/168 "2025-04-06T01:30:11Z")
Actually, some hospitals have UV sanitizers for smartphones, particularly those to be brought into operating rooms. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invention-of-the-telephone/1015525/169 "2025-04-06T01:32:58Z")
Operating rooms? In case the surgeon needs to call his stockbroker? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invention-of-the-telephone/1015525/170 "2025-04-06T01:34:01Z")
In case the insurance company calls to say they aren’t covering the procedure. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invention-of-the-telephone/1015525/171 "2025-04-06T01:34:03Z")
Surgeries take a long time and you gotta do _something_ to pass the time. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invention-of-the-telephone/1015525/172 "2025-04-06T01:37:57Z")
No, that’s silly. I’d call post-op to check on the status of my last surgery, or admitting to make sure my next patient arrived. …ok, I really mostly called to order a pizza for lunch. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invention-of-the-telephone/1015525/173 "2025-04-06T02:59:13Z")
Smartphones are bacteria-laced mostly because we practically glue them to our faces, and our faces are already bacteria-laced. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invention-of-the-telephone/1015525/174 "2025-04-06T03:14:12Z")
Please don’t remind me about demodex mites. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invention-of-the-telephone/1015525/175 "2025-04-06T06:32:02Z")
Mine never touches my face anymore. I speak through a Bluetooth earpiece. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invention-of-the-telephone/1015525/176 "2025-04-06T09:21:57Z")
…and because, unlike the old-school landlines, smartphones go everywhere with us—including the bathroom. That’s where airborne poop particles float around like invisible landmines, settling on your phone—and later hitching a ride to your unsuspecting friend’s face when they borrow your phone. Sharing is caring… until it isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invention-of-the-telephone/1015525/177 "2025-04-06T13:13:29Z")
But if you won’t share poop with them, how good a friend can they be? ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invention-of-the-telephone/1015525/178 "2025-04-06T14:30:36Z")
Well, a fecal friend is feckless, but a poop-less pal is perfect. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invention-of-the-telephone/1015525/179 "2025-04-06T21:58:50Z")
Hospitals use cell phones for internal communications. It used to be pagers/beepers, and before that was ceiling-mounted colored lights. (“code red”) Fun thought: “pager” because paging was done by page boys, who would walk through the hotel lobby, calling “mister smith?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invention-of-the-telephone/1015525.md?page=8)