Radiovoter: The ‘Like’ Button That Came Before Facebook

Talking back to our broadcast media seems to be an integral part of the early 21st century experience. … It might seem like something that’s just started popping into conversations recently, but the idea is as old as broadcasting itself.

In 1934, a New York research engineer named Dr. Nevil Monroe Hopkins thought that adding in a bit of interaction was the future of radio. Hopkins proposed a three-button box that would be installed with each home radio set. Press one button for “no,” another for “yes,” and a third for “present.” [cont.]

Matt Novak, Pacific Standard

See also: Voting by Radio (Popular Science, June 1934)

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