48 years ago today, Ward Christensen and Randy Suess launched CBBS, the world’s first dial-up bulletin board system — and online communities were born.
From one phone line and a modem in 1978 to the BBS revival we’re still running today, the spirit of connection lives on.
This Months Dialed Back in Compute!’s Gazette celebrating these 48 years from Ward and Randy!
A Baudy anniversary to the pioneers who started it all.
Happy BBSday !!
On this day today in 1978, Ward Christensen and Randy Suess took the world's first bulletin board system (the "CBBS") officially online.
#BBSDay
#CBBS
#WardChristensen
#RandySuess
#BulletinBoardSystem
R.I.P. Ward Christensen
Co-Creator of one of the earliest forms of Social Media — BBS
#BBS #CBBS #retroComputing #socialMedia #vintageComputing #wardChristensen
Ward Christensen, Wisconsin native, last surviving co-inventor of the first computer bulletin board, and great-great grandfather of Mastodon, has died.
Ward Christensen - 1945/10/23 - 2024/10/11 (78 years)
Ward Christensen - 1945/10/23 - 2024/10/11 (78 years) Ward Christensen was a pioneer whose contributions laid the foundation for much of the online world we know today. His passing on October 11, 2024, marks the loss of a visionary who, alongside Randy Suess, helped create the first bulletin board system (BBS), a groundbreaking innovation that connected people in ways never before imagined. Back in 1978, when the idea of communicating with others via a computer was still in its infancy, Ward Christensen and Randy Suess saw an opportunity to leverage their technical knowledge to build something transformative. They created the CBBS, or Computerised Bulletin Board System, in Chicago during a particularly harsh winter. That vision not only pioneered what would eventually evolve into today’s online forums, message boards, and social media platforms but also helped foster a sense of community among early computer enthusiasts.
RIP Ward Christensen, may your modulator/demodulator remain in ATH in peace and tranquility.
Today, 46 Years ago the first #bbs goes online.
On February 16th 1977 in Chicago (IL,USA) Ward
Christensen and Randy Suess are about to finishing the last steps before switching the #CBBS #online.
The CBBS was the first Computerized #bulletin #board #system and would not only mark the Milestone for the Onlineage. It also allowed to invent and grow subcultures like the #demoscene. If your computer had a modem attached to it you could explore the world though it, since you're no longer physical bound to a location to do so.
In the upcoming years of #bbsing the #ansi char set would spark a whole #ArtScene that is still
present and activ today. The #ANSIart Scene. Even the exchange of text messages and files would break out of the local BBS. Tom Jennings created the #fidonet which was no less than a network that spans the world and allows the communication beyond all borders.
Atari BBS
The Oasis BBS
Wintermute_BBS
@reiver ⊼ (Charles) 
Rob
MeaTLoTioN
Josh Roybal 🇺🇳
Alisha Manuela Stutz