Guglielmo Marconi is credited with inventing the first practical system for wireless telegraphy, or radio. By using electromagnetic waves (radio waves) to transmit signals without the need for wires, Marconi proved that long-distance communication could be achieved through the air. His first successful transatlantic transmission occurred in 1901. Radio revolutionized maritime safety (famously used during the sinking of the Titanic), military communication, and eventually became the first mass media for news and entertainment. The invention was a critical step in the development of all modern wireless technology, including television, cell phones, and Wi-Fi. It broke the physical constraints of wired communication and created a shared global culture through broadcasting.