Abstract :
THE CENTENARY of Titanic´s sinking makes for uncomfortable reflection, and it is difficult to consider the disaster in any context other than the tragedy of the 1,517 crew and passengers who perished. Notwithstanding any misgivings about this year´s calendar of commemorative theme cruises and period partying (see page 31), it should be remembered also that some important positive developments around communications technology since 1912 stem from the circumstances of the ´unsinkable´ liner´s fate.