The Smartphone
Dial in to the fascinating history of the smartphone, from its roots in Morse Code to 2007, when Apple unveiled the first-ever iPhone. Plus, see how the next generation of smartphones will allow us to communicate through them just by thinking.
Previews + Extras
Polybius Square
S1 E6 - 1m 42s
Polybius, a Greek statesman and tutor to the Roman general, Scipio Africanus, sees that the Romans' method of signaling on the battlefield is limited to a small number of messages. He decides to invent a code so words can be exchanged between battalions freely. The result: the first long distance messaging system.
Hollywood Icon Hedy Lamarr
S1 E6 - 2m 56s
In 1941 the Nazi’s are winning the war in Europe. The Nazi U boats are fast and agile and the allied torpedoes are not very accurate. Hollywood star, a secret inventor, Hedy Lamarr is determined to help fight the Nazis. Inspired by a player piano, she invents a way to control torpedoes remotely and creates the world’s first secret communications system.
Episode 6 Preview | The Smartphone
S1 E6 - 30s
Dial in to the fascinating history of the smartphone, from its roots in Morse Code to 2007, when Apple unveiled the first-ever iPhone. Plus, see how the next generation of smartphones will allow us to communicate through them just by thinking.
Similar Shows
![The Age of Nature: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/05/30/1813-9iMgtdO-show-poster2x3-PoTX3VQ.jpg?itok=mqFMVsqM)
The Age of Nature
Science and Nature
![Phoenix Mars Mission: Onto the Ice: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/04/18/220473-HcFPS8A-show-poster2x3-UgeD0Qz.jpg?itok=OQL_EXHA)
Phoenix Mars Mission: Onto the Ice
Science and Nature
![The Brain Revolution: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2023/05/11/15040-pco7xXl-show-poster2x3-gB223or.jpg?itok=0Atj740b)
The Brain Revolution
Science and Nature
![Earth's Natural Wonders: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/07/01/4293-IuLzY5l-show-poster2x3-dUk5OGC.jpg?itok=jdxA-3hB)
Earth's Natural Wonders
Science and Nature
![Project Asteroid: Mapping Bennu: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/04/18/228545-acP69Qg-show-poster2x3-FB9sf47.jpg?itok=G687TCbB)
Project Asteroid: Mapping Bennu
Science and Nature
![Magical Land of Oz: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/04/17/2243-q8fJciM-show-poster2x3-xaiyT7U.jpg?itok=Ewni2b_Z)
Magical Land of Oz
Science and Nature
![The Burren: Heart of Stone: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/04/18/211100-Fqdv1Zi-show-poster2x3-zrL37GM.jpg?itok=YWNcljP_)
The Burren: Heart of Stone
Science and Nature
![Autumnwatch New England: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/04/17/3325-zPOPPKm-show-poster2x3-OeSHd1f.jpg?itok=N2ZkziYS)
Autumnwatch New England
Science and Nature
![Your Inner Fish: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/04/17/2244-qtOMTMDxsdnQoY62x7Gzw.jpg?itok=CxoVWWO6)
Your Inner Fish
Science and Nature
![Butterfly Town, USA: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/04/16/253260-Zg0dq4O-show-poster2x3-M01bYL6.jpg?itok=BgtMyIZu)
Butterfly Town, USA
Science and Nature
WETA Passport
Stream tens of thousands of hours of your PBS and local favorites with WETA Passport whenever and wherever you want. Catch up on a single episode or binge-watch full seasons before they air on TV.