At the end of the 19th century, the world was at the dawn of a technological revolution, with fields such as electricity, telecommunications, and mechanical engineering developing rapidly.

It was at this time that an American inventor named Thomas Edison, with his outstanding wisdom and innovative spirit, invented the world's first phonograph.

Thus changing people's lifestyles, the music industry, and even the entire culture. This article takes an in-depth look at Edison's life, the invention of the phonograph, and its impact on the world.

Thomas Edison, born in 1847 and died in 1931, was one of the most outstanding inventors in American history. His inventions span a variety of fields, including the electric light, telephone, batteries, motion pictures, and more, but one of his most iconic inventions is the phonograph.

Edison's early life was not easy. He was considered a child with a learning disability due to hearing problems at a young age, but this did not stop him from pursuing his dreams of science and innovation.

The invention of the phonograph did not happen overnight. It was the result of many experiments and improvements. In 1877, Edison made his first attempt at building a device capable of recording and reproducing sound.

His original intention was to solve problems in telegraph and telephone communications at the time, but he soon realized that the technology had the potential for much more than that.

His research is based on a device called a "spiral probe" through which vibrations of sound waveforms are recorded. However, the initial experiments were not successful because the device he used did not record sound accurately, and there was no suitable way to reproduce the recorded sounds.

After several failed attempts, Edison succeeded in inventing the first device capable of recording and playing back sounds in late 1877. The device consisted of an iron needle used to engrave onto a rotating zinc cylinder that was wrapped in a thin film.

When he used a hand-cranked mechanical gear to drive the cylinder to rotate, the needle carved a spiral groove in the film based on the sound vibrations. The recorded sound can then be reproduced by moving the needle over the film on which the sound is engraved.

This invention was called the "phonograph" by Edison, meaning a "sound-preserving" machine. Its advent caused a huge sensation and was considered a technological breakthrough.

Edison first demonstrated the capabilities of the phonograph on December 6, 1877, when he recorded and played back a piece of his own voice, which became the world's first successful recording and playback of sound.

This recorded voice, in which he uttered the famous words: "Mary had a little lamb," is considered the birth of the phonograph.

Edison's phonograph quickly aroused widespread public interest. People came to hear about this magical device and were fascinated by its potential.

The commercial potential of the phonograph was also quickly recognized, and the music industry began to exploit the technology to record and distribute music. This made the phonograph not only a technological innovation but also a catalyst for cultural change.

Over time, the design of phonographs continued to improve, and so did the quality of their sound. Eventually, it became an important part of home entertainment, and people could enjoy music at home at any time.

During this period, known as the "Gramophone Age," music became more accessible and the music industry boomed. Artists began recording records that listeners could purchase and play at home. This era also produced some musical classics that have become eternal classics.

Edison's phonograph not only had a profound impact on the music industry but also had a huge impact on culture, society, and technology. First, it changes the way people entertain themselves.

Before the phonograph, music could usually only be enjoyed in a concert hall or in a family orchestra, but the phonograph made music a part of people's daily lives.

Secondly, it promoted the rise of the record industry, allowing music to be mass-produced and disseminated, which played an important role in the commercialization of the music industry.

Finally, the phonograph was also an important milestone in music and recording technology, laying the foundation for the subsequent development of music recording and playback technology.

Overall, the world's first phonograph invented by Thomas Edison was a technological innovation with a far-reaching impact. It not only changed the music industry but also changed people's lifestyles and culture.

The birth of the phonograph marked the fusion of technology and art, laying the foundation for later music recording and playback technology, while also bringing colorful changes to music, culture, and society.

Edison's phonograph was therefore more than just a machine, it was a revolutionary innovation that shaped part of modern society.