Ward Christensen, BBS inventor and architect of our online age, dies at age 78
Ward Christensen, co-inventor of the bulletin board system, died at 78. He developed the first BBS in 1978 and created the XMODEM protocol, emphasizing community and knowledge sharing.
Read original article
Ward Christensen, co-inventor of the computer bulletin board system (BBS), passed away at the age of 78 in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Alongside Randy Suess, Christensen developed the first BBS in 1978 during the Great Blizzard, aiming to maintain communication within their computer club. This innovation laid the groundwork for digital community-building and online interactions that are prevalent today. Christensen was also known for creating XMODEM, a file transfer protocol that facilitated the sharing of files over unstable telephone lines. Despite his significant contributions to the digital age, Christensen remained humble and low-profile throughout his life, working at IBM until his retirement in 2012. He received several accolades for his work, including Dvorak Awards and the Pioneer Award from the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Friends and colleagues remember him as a gentle and unassuming figure who prioritized sharing knowledge and fostering community over personal recognition. His passing, along with Suess's in 2019, marks the end of an era for BBS, although many systems still operate today, often through the Internet.
- Ward Christensen, co-inventor of the BBS, died at 78.
- He created the first BBS in 1978 with Randy Suess during a blizzard.
- Christensen also invented the XMODEM file transfer protocol.
- He maintained a low profile despite his significant contributions to online culture.
- His legacy includes a focus on community-building and knowledge sharing.
Related
Bruce Bastian, WordPerfect co-creator, has died
Bruce Bastian, a tech entrepreneur, LGBTQ+ advocate, and philanthropist, passed away at 76. Known for supporting LGBTQ+ rights, founding the B.W. Bastian Foundation, and serving on the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Arts.
The Internet
The Internet's evolution from a slow network connecting campuses to a global platform overshadowed BBSes. Challenges like overcrowding and spam arose with mass adoption, but early text files reflect the era's quest for knowledge and sharing information globally.
50 years ago, CP/M started the microcomputer revolution
Gary Kildall developed CP/M in 1974, a pioneering microcomputer operating system that influenced software compatibility. Its legacy continues, despite challenges from competitors like MS-DOS, shaping the computer industry.
45 years ago CompuServe connected the world before the World Wide Web
CompuServe launched its consumer service on September 24, 1979, becoming a pioneer in online communication with features like email and forums, before being acquired by AOL in 1997.
Ward Christensen has died (of BBS and XMODEM fame)
Ward Christensen, co-founder of the first bulletin board system CBBS in 1978, developed the XMODEM protocol, received multiple awards, and worked at IBM until 2012, influencing public-domain software.
3 commentsWard Christensen (of BBS and XMODEM fame) has died - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41828923 - Oct 2024 (72 comments)
Bottom line: if you want to understand the actual history of the online world, don't read Ars Technica. They don't get it, they've never gotten it, and you're just being fed mythology and selective history in the same mold as WIRED before it.
They should know better. The author of the article absolutely has no excuse. But still, they actually public "architect of our online age" when that is NOT what Ward was at all. He was a latecomer. The online world was already booming in 1978.
Related
Bruce Bastian, WordPerfect co-creator, has died
Bruce Bastian, a tech entrepreneur, LGBTQ+ advocate, and philanthropist, passed away at 76. Known for supporting LGBTQ+ rights, founding the B.W. Bastian Foundation, and serving on the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Arts.
The Internet
The Internet's evolution from a slow network connecting campuses to a global platform overshadowed BBSes. Challenges like overcrowding and spam arose with mass adoption, but early text files reflect the era's quest for knowledge and sharing information globally.
50 years ago, CP/M started the microcomputer revolution
Gary Kildall developed CP/M in 1974, a pioneering microcomputer operating system that influenced software compatibility. Its legacy continues, despite challenges from competitors like MS-DOS, shaping the computer industry.
45 years ago CompuServe connected the world before the World Wide Web
CompuServe launched its consumer service on September 24, 1979, becoming a pioneer in online communication with features like email and forums, before being acquired by AOL in 1997.
Ward Christensen has died (of BBS and XMODEM fame)
Ward Christensen, co-founder of the first bulletin board system CBBS in 1978, developed the XMODEM protocol, received multiple awards, and worked at IBM until 2012, influencing public-domain software.