A technology used to transmit images or documents over a telephone line. It was invented in the mid-19th century and became widely used in the 20th century for business communications.
History:
- The concept of fax technology dates back to the 1840s when Alexander Bain invented the Electric Printing Telegraph.
- In 1865, an Italian physicist, Giovanni Caselli, introduced the first commercial fax service, the Pantelegraph.
- In 1964, Xerox introduced the first commercial version of the modern fax machine connected to the public telephone network.
- Fax machines became popular in the 1980s and 1990s, allowing for quick and easy transmission of documents between businesses.
Use today:
- Despite the widespread use of email and other digital communication methods, fax is still used in various industries, such as healthcare, legal, and government.
- In healthcare, fax is often used to securely transmit medical records and prescriptions, as it is considered more secure than email.
- Legal documents, such as contracts and court filings, are sometimes faxed to meet certain legal requirements or provide a paper trail.
- Some businesses still use fax for international communications, especially in countries where email is less common or reliable.
- Modern fax technology includes internet-based fax services, which allow users to send and receive faxes via email or through a web interface, eliminating the need for a physical fax machine.
While fax usage has declined significantly since its peak, it remains a relevant technology in specific industries and situations where secure document transmission or legal requirements are necessary.
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