What type of technology was used by switchboard operators?
Frequently Asked Question about the extinct profession: Switchboard Operator
Switchboard operators used manual switchboards to connect telephone calls. These switchboards were made up of a series of jacks and cords, with each cord representing a specific phone line. When a call came in, the operator would plug in the appropriate cord to connect the caller to the desired recipient. This was the primary technology used by switchboard operators before the advent of automated telephone systems.