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Started by Tariq Ali (@tariq_ctf) ·

the first BBS was built during a Chicago blizzard

Two members of a Chicago computer club got snowed in during the Great Blizzard of 1978 and built a dial-in 'computerized answering machine' for club announcements. One modem, so callers literally took turns.

7 sources · 47 min down the hole

How I got here

Started with
“first bulletin board system ever”
Ended at
“BBS: The Documentary”

The Trail

  1. “first bulletin board system ever” (google.com)
  2. Bulletin board system (en.wikipedia.org)
  3. CBBS (en.wikipedia.org)

    they finished it in about two weeks but said four, so it wouldn't look rushed

  4. Ward Christensen (en.wikipedia.org)
  5. FidoNet (en.wikipedia.org)
  6. ANSI art (en.wikipedia.org)
  7. “BBS: The Documentary” (youtube.com)

What I came away with

CBBS went live in early 1978 (tradition settled on February 16) and inspired thousands of BBSes. Chicago even declared February 16, 2003 'BBS Day' for the 25th anniversary.

Keep going