The first message sent over ARPANET (the precursor to the Internet) in 1969 was supposed to be "LOGIN," but the system crashed after only transmitting "LO." This unintentional abbreviation of "hello" became a fitting first message for the nascent network.
The @ symbol in email addresses was chosen by Ray Tomlinson in 1971. He needed a character that wouldn't appear in anyone's name, and the @ symbol on his typewriter keyboard fit the bill.
The first spam email was sent in 1978 by Gary Thuerk, a marketing manager at Digital Equipment Corporation. He sent an advertisement for DEC computers to 393 ARPANET users, much to their annoyance.
The term "surfing the Internet" was coined by librarian Jean Armour Polly in 1992. She was looking for a way to describe the experience of using the Internet and drew inspiration from a mouse pad with a wave and surfer on it
The first webcam was set up at Cambridge University in 1991 to monitor a coffee pot. Computer scientists wanted to know if there was coffee available without having to leave their desks.
The "Eternal September" refers to September 1993, when AOL began offering Usenet access to its users, leading to a massive influx of new Internet users that disrupted existing online communities.
The iconic "You've Got Mail" notification from AOL was voiced by Elwood Edwards, who recorded the phrase along with "Welcome," "File's Done," and "Goodbye" in 1989. His wife was working for Quantum Computer Services (which later became AOL) at the time.
The first message sent over ARPANET (the precursor to the Internet) in 1969 was supposed to be "LOGIN," but the system crashed after only transmitting "LO." This unintentional abbreviation of "hello" became a fitting first message for the nascent network.
The @ symbol in email addresses was chosen by Ray Tomlinson in 1971. He needed a character that wouldn't appear in anyone's name, and the @ symbol on his typewriter keyboard fit the bill.
The first spam email was sent in 1978 by Gary Thuerk, a marketing manager at Digital Equipment Corporation. He sent an advertisement for DEC computers to 393 ARPANET users, much to their annoyance.
The term "surfing the Internet" was coined by librarian Jean Armour Polly in 1992. She was looking for a way to describe the experience of using the Internet and drew inspiration from a mouse pad with a wave and surfer on it
The first webcam was set up at Cambridge University in 1991 to monitor a coffee pot. Computer scientists wanted to know if there was coffee available without having to leave their desks.
The "Eternal September" refers to September 1993, when AOL began offering Usenet access to its users, leading to a massive influx of new Internet users that disrupted existing online communities.
The iconic "You've Got Mail" notification from AOL was voiced by Elwood Edwards, who recorded the phrase along with "Welcome," "File's Done," and "Goodbye" in 1989. His wife was working for Quantum Computer Services (which later became AOL) at the time.