The Development Of Electrophones And Its Background Of Science And Technology

Electrophones have great influence on today's society. The works about electrophones are not uncommon. This paper writes the topic again, for none of the articles the writer read put the development of electrophones on the historical background of science and technology, and summarize from the functions of science and the relationship between science, technology and society. Therefore, this paper will review the history from the aspect of history of science and technology.There are five chapters in this paper. Chapter One, introduction; Chapter Two to Four, review the development of musical acoustics and mathematics, the development of electromagnetics, and the development of electronics, microelectronics and computer technology respectively. Chapter Five, reviews the birth, development and prosperity of electrophones.This paper takes electrophones as the example, and discusses the functions of science. We pointed out that the function of science is the epistemological function firstly. Because of science, human beings understand why nature is like this. The power of science presents to human beings, no matter the military power, or the productivity, all are derived from the cognition of "why the nature is like this".Secondly, the paper discusses the scientific method. We point out that why Francis Bacon firmly believed that people could understand the nature from science was because he believed that he found the scientific method. Analysis and reduction are the basic features of scientific method, which means understanding the essence of complex things by "disassemble" vividly. Sound seems to be extremely complex apparently, which has little possibility of being disassembled. However, when acoustics and mathematics developed to the 19th century, it let people witness such achievement:Helmholtz from the aspect of psychology, while Fourier from the aspect of mathematics, "disassemble" the sound into simple elements.Electromagnetics made significant progress in the 19th century. During this period, A. Volta, H. C. Oersted, A. M. Ampere, G. S. Ohm, M. Faraday, J. Henry, J. C. Maxwell, H. R. Hertz and many other outstanding characters appeared. That period also appeared the "circuit solver" like G. R. Kirchhoff. Their work provides comprehensive basis for the development of electrophones from concept to theory. On the other hand, the establishment of electromagnetic theory in the 19th century promotes the advancement of a series of heavy current applications such as dynamo, electromotor and alternating current transmission, and light current applications such as telephone, telegraph, radio communication and radio broadcast, which led the second technology revolution after the steam revolution in human history. Electrophones were born in the wave of this technology revolution. The invention of vacuum tube, transistor, integrated circuit and electronic computer during the 20th century provides solid material foundation for the development and prosperity of electrophones.Regarding why we did not amount to something in the history of electrophones like western people, we pointed out that is because we lack some scientific spirit spreading in the whole society. We believe that to prosper the country relying on science and education need the efforts of the whole society. How to build a good social environment where the scientific spirit spreads and let our children no longer say "I do not like science" after graduation? This question is very tough and beyond the scope of this paper. It needs further research and discussion from others.