Global Connectivity

The early 1900s bring numerous challenges. The Great Depression and two World Wars reveal the dangers inherent in global connectivity. But a positive result of this is the communications technology developed during wartime eventually becomes another mainstream innovation that connects people around the world.

Just as telegraph technology facilitated communication in the mid–1800s, the touchtone telephone allows the traders of the mid–1900s to receive and communicate market information domestically and internationally.

Chicago Board of Trade member on the trading floor phone, 1980s

Traders use telephones such as this 128-line model from the 1970s to receive a high rate of orders. The telephone remains a standard element of the trader’s toolkit even as computers and state-of-the-art displays begin to become absolute