George du Maurier's cartoon about the "electric pinhole camera" of 1879 (interestingly, on March 7, 1876, Alexander Bell received a patent for the invention of the telephone) it is often called an early prediction of television and the appearance of videophones, as well as widescreen and flat screens. (The screen in the picture is about 2 meters wide and the aspect ratio is 2.7: 1, the same as that of the Ultra Panavision).
Text in the picture:
EDISON TELEPHONOSCOPE (TRANSMITS LIGHT AND SOUND).
Every evening before going to bed, the father and mother install an electric pinhole camera over the mantelpiece in their bedroom, delight their eyes by watching their children on the Antipodes (Antipodes, here, probably, means a point on the earth's surface, diametrically opposite to the initial one) and cheerfully talk to them over the network.
The head of the patriarchal family (in Wilton Place):
"Beatrice, come closer. I want to whisper."
Beatrice (from Ceylon):
- "Yes, dear Dad"
"Who is this charming young lady playing on Charlie's side?"
Beatrice:
"She's just arrived from England, Dad. I'll introduce you to her as soon as the game is over!"