Blake Patterson @blakespot@oldbytes.space
Public

Feb. 16, 1978 -- forty eight years ago today -- the first public dial-up bulletin board system or BBS went online.

Wired: "1978: Ward Christensen and Randy Suess launch the first public dialup bulletin board system. The two unleash the kernel of what would eventually spawn the world wide web, countless online messaging systems..."

wired.com/2010/02/0216cbbs-fir

I got my first modem in the summer of 1986, a Prometheus ProModem 1200A (modem on a card) for the Apple II. The first BBS I logged in to was OxGate, an RBBS/RCPM system the phone number of which I still can remember (my earliest BBS software -- firmware-based on that modem card -- had no phone book). I used BBSs avidly until sometime in 1994, when I subscribed to a local ISP's (Widomaker of Williamsburg, VA) dial-up modem-based PPP service that brought TCP/IP to my 486 PC with Windows 3.1. I could then browse the web from home, and that was basically the end of BBSing for me -- for the moment, anyway.

For those interested in experiencing this early form of online community, there are many BBSs online right now, accessible via telnet on systems old and new. I've enjoyed getting back into BBSing this way, especially when using vintage systems to login.

Most any computer can do it, today. Tips on how: bytecellar.com/bbsing

Apple IIe computer (circa 1983) dialed into an electronic bulletin board system (BBS)OxGate BBS login screen from 1986Prometheus ProModem 1200A modem packaging with detailsLogged into a telnet-based BBS using MuffinTerm for iPadOS
0
5
1

If you have a fediverse account, you can quote this note from your own instance. Search https://oldbytes.space/users/blakespot/statuses/116081254908027544 on your instance and quote it. (Note that quoting is not supported in Mastodon.)

Tim Chambers @tchambers@indieweb.social
Public

RE: oldbytes.space/@blakespot/1160

These were - especially once came along the first decentralized and literally federated social media platforms. I do expect there was likely some lessons learned back then which could inform future choices of the open social web we have today.

0
0
0