| The walkie talkie, also known as the handheld | | | | anywhere where constant communication is |
| transceiver has a rich history and has been | | | | needed, a walkie talkie is regarded a standard |
| instrumental in developments in the military | | | | piece of equipment. Other developments have |
| sphere. Fundamentally they are a hand held way | | | | improved the durability of the devices making |
| to communicate with anyone else who has a | | | | them shockproof and waterproof. Some |
| similar device. Their history can be traced to the | | | | developments have focussed on the size of the |
| Canadian government who during the Second | | | | devices; modern electronics have allowed light and |
| World War designed the device in order that | | | | small models to enter the market. Additionally, |
| military operatives had a ready form of | | | | designers have incorporated scrambling devices in |
| communication for operational activities. | | | | order for operatives to have private |
| The first walkie talkie device was the Motorola | | | | communications; this type of development has |
| SCR-300. First being released in 1940 it was not | | | | been especially useful in the construction of police |
| as handheld as modern variants; at this time the | | | | radios. |
| smallest devices still required the user to carry a | | | | The walkie talkie has also become a popular toy |
| backpack. However development occurred quickly | | | | for children. Predominantly these are low power |
| and in the latter stages of the war a handheld | | | | devices that do not require a licence because |
| device was released being labelled the 'handie | | | | they operate in a specific frequency range and do |
| talkie' by troops. The term walkie talkie, although | | | | not have the power to communicate over long |
| being used describe all modern devices during the | | | | distances. Normally the components used in the |
| war referred to the backpack model rather than | | | | construction of these toys are far cheaper than |
| the handheld. The handie variety however | | | | 'adult' varieties meaning that they are not |
| suffered in terms of operation because of its | | | | applicable for uses in business. In addition, while |
| reduced size. | | | | more expensive models have a separate |
| Development after the war was rapid with | | | | microphone and speaker, the children's models use |
| improvements to both range and size evident | | | | one speaker for both purposes. One use that is |
| amongst the allied nations. However the walkie | | | | not normally present on adult variants is the |
| talkie still had its limitations. Due to the power | | | | inclusion of a code button on kid's devices. While |
| restrictions, normally only a few watts, the | | | | this is included for the use of Morse code |
| communication applications were somewhat poor. | | | | messaging, it is usually used to annoy parents. |
| Most handheld devices of the post war era, even | | | | The walkie talkie has come from a military |
| up to the seventies operated poorly in built up | | | | background, created to ease the tasks of those |
| areas where buildings restricted the transmission | | | | in warfare to a device that can be used by |
| of radio waves. As a result, military personnel | | | | children as a toy. This shows that it has entered |
| often had to utilise a highly mounted 'repeater' | | | | many different sections of society and has |
| that vastly improved the range of the device. | | | | become integral to many different communication |
| Today the walkie talkie is still a frequently used | | | | requirements. Without the invention of this device, |
| device in the military although modern models are | | | | short range communication would not be as easy; |
| far smaller and usually integrated in the form of | | | | the role they play in security, law enforcement |
| headsets and mouthpieces. The devices however | | | | and safety procedures cannot be underestimated |
| are not purely used in the military sphere, | | | | and most probably form the most important |
| applications today include the public sector, | | | | developments the walkie talkie has brought us. |
| outdoor activities and security personnel, in fact | | | | |