Improving the noise performance of communication systems: 1930s to early 1940s [History of Communications]

The development of an understanding of the impact of noise on communication system performance during the 1930s and early 1940s. This followed on earlier work in the 1920s. We described the invention of wideband FM and PCM as being quite pivotal in showing how the proper design of communication systems could lead to a considerable decrease in the impact of noise. In these two cases engineers became aware of the concept that purposely increasing bandwidth could, with certain designs, result in a considerable reduction of noise.