The microphone was invented in the United States by Emile Berliner in 1877.
Berliner's invention, known as the "loose contact" microphone, used a diaphragm that vibrated in response to sound waves. These vibrations then changed the resistance of a loose contact between a metal point and a carbon button, which in turn modulated an electrical current. This modulated current could then be transmitted and converted back into sound waves at the receiving end.
Berliner's microphone was a significant advancement over the previous "liquid transmitter" microphones, which were less reliable and more cumbersome. His invention paved the way for the development of modern microphones that are used in a wide range of applications, including telephones, radios, and recording equipment.
While Berliner is credited with the invention of the microphone, it's important to note that other inventors were also working on similar devices around the same time. For example, David Edward Hughes independently developed a carbon microphone in 1878.
However, Berliner's microphone design was the one that ultimately gained widespread adoption and became the foundation for future microphone development.
