Comments on: Where the world’s first transatlantic email was sent from http://blog.webnographer.com/2009/03/where-the-worlds-first-transatlantic-email-was-sent-from/ Mon, 16 May 2011 22:44:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: On Message with Ben Gross » Blog Archive » New and noteworthy for 4/7/09 http://blog.webnographer.com/2009/03/where-the-worlds-first-transatlantic-email-was-sent-from/#comment-1244 On Message with Ben Gross » Blog Archive » New and noteworthy for 4/7/09 Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:19:29 +0000 http://blog.feralabs.com/?p=361#comment-1244 [...] Where the world’s first transatlantic email was sent from: The FeraLabs blog has an interesting bit of historical research tracking down information on the building where the first transatlantic email originated. The message was sent by Dick Grimsdale from the University of Sussex in September 1973 to the United States. Unfortunately the research does not include additional information about where the message was sent. [...] [...] Where the world’s first transatlantic email was sent from: The FeraLabs blog has an interesting bit of historical research tracking down information on the building where the first transatlantic email originated. The message was sent by Dick Grimsdale from the University of Sussex in September 1973 to the United States. Unfortunately the research does not include additional information about where the message was sent. [...]

]]> By: Pat Hayes http://blog.webnographer.com/2009/03/where-the-worlds-first-transatlantic-email-was-sent-from/#comment-1242 Pat Hayes Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:56:13 +0000 http://blog.feralabs.com/?p=361#comment-1242 I wonder if this really was the first. I was at University of Essex at that time, and recall the 'network' we had to use. From a UK center we had to phone (using an 110 baud acoustic "modem" which made noises into a telephone headset) to Imperial College, London, which hosted the only ex-UK link, to a computer in, I believe, Amsterdam, which linked to a US military computer somewhere in northern Europe, which had a (military-managed) link to another military computer in Maryland, which was one node in the nascent DARPA 'internet', at that time having around ten machines on it, including one at Stanford, to which I managed to send a message in, I believe, 1972 or 73. But I was by no means the first. It seems most likely that the first proto-email was sent from Imperial College rather than Sussex, and that it was done in private. I see that the original press release refers to the first "public" demonstration. Hardly seems important enough to warrant a blue plaque. I wonder if this really was the first. I was at University of Essex at that time, and recall the ‘network’ we had to use. From a UK center we had to phone (using an 110 baud acoustic “modem” which made noises into a telephone headset) to Imperial College, London, which hosted the only ex-UK link, to a computer in, I believe, Amsterdam, which linked to a US military computer somewhere in northern Europe, which had a (military-managed) link to another military computer in Maryland, which was one node in the nascent DARPA ‘internet’, at that time having around ten machines on it, including one at Stanford, to which I managed to send a message in, I believe, 1972 or 73. But I was by no means the first. It seems most likely that the first proto-email was sent from Imperial College rather than Sussex, and that it was done in private. I see that the original press release refers to the first “public” demonstration. Hardly seems important enough to warrant a blue plaque.

]]> By: admin http://blog.webnographer.com/2009/03/where-the-worlds-first-transatlantic-email-was-sent-from/#comment-1241 admin Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:00:57 +0000 http://blog.feralabs.com/?p=361#comment-1241 @brent I think the inventor was probably there at the meeting, and may have been giving a demo. But until we track some of the people down we don't know. @Dominic Mitchell. Thank you very much for the reference. Will look it up. @brent I think the inventor was probably there at the meeting, and may have been giving a demo. But until we track some of the people down we don’t know.

@Dominic Mitchell. Thank you very much for the reference. Will look it up.

]]> By: Dominic Mitchell http://blog.webnographer.com/2009/03/where-the-worlds-first-transatlantic-email-was-sent-from/#comment-1240 Dominic Mitchell Wed, 01 Apr 2009 07:41:01 +0000 http://blog.feralabs.com/?p=361#comment-1240 Just for reference, I first saw this info about sussex in “where wizards stay up late: the origins of the internet” (<a href="http://isbn.nu/0684832674" rel="nofollow">isbn 0684832674</a>) Just for reference, I first saw this info about sussex in “where wizards stay up late: the origins of the internet” (isbn 0684832674)

]]> By: Brent Norris http://blog.webnographer.com/2009/03/where-the-worlds-first-transatlantic-email-was-sent-from/#comment-1239 Brent Norris Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:56:48 +0000 http://blog.feralabs.com/?p=361#comment-1239 Interesting. So often when an application is created (like email) it's the person that creates the application that also tests it. In this case, I wonder if it was called email? If that is what it was called, I'm surprised the creator of the application wasn't the first to test it overseas. I'm not trying to take anything away from the folks at the conference but surely the person that built and tested the network would have tried it overseas if only for the coolness factor. Or maybe "email" was created by someone that waited for the conference to be held before testing overseas? Regarding the telegraph article... Holy smokes! 27kw is a lot of power to run a computer! Great articles. Interesting. So often when an application is created (like email) it’s the person that creates the application that also tests it. In this case, I wonder if it was called email? If that is what it was called, I’m surprised the creator of the application wasn’t the first to test it overseas.

I’m not trying to take anything away from the folks at the conference but surely the person that built and tested the network would have tried it overseas if only for the coolness factor.

Or maybe “email” was created by someone that waited for the conference to be held before testing overseas?

Regarding the telegraph article… Holy smokes! 27kw is a lot of power to run a computer! Great articles.

]]> By: Ted Sbardella http://blog.webnographer.com/2009/03/where-the-worlds-first-transatlantic-email-was-sent-from/#comment-1236 Ted Sbardella Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:32:50 +0000 http://blog.feralabs.com/?p=361#comment-1236 I think they do plaques outside London as well I think they do plaques outside London as well

]]> By: John Carroll http://blog.webnographer.com/2009/03/where-the-worlds-first-transatlantic-email-was-sent-from/#comment-1235 John Carroll Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:32:09 +0000 http://blog.feralabs.com/?p=361#comment-1235 Thanks for an interesting article. A blue plaque is a very good idea. But I hope it wouldn't contain the sort of inaccuracy that's in the University of Sussex press release: "The network subsequently developed into the World Wide Web, providing the ubiquitous email and internet facilities we use today." (!) Of course the Internet and email are far older than the Web, which is a relative newcomer and is a service using the Internet as supporting infrastructure. Thanks for an interesting article. A blue plaque is a very good idea. But I hope it wouldn’t contain the sort of inaccuracy that’s in the University of Sussex press release: “The network subsequently developed into the World Wide Web, providing the ubiquitous email and internet facilities we use today.” (!) Of course the Internet and email are far older than the Web, which is a relative newcomer and is a service using the Internet as supporting infrastructure.

]]> By: Just|Mike http://blog.webnographer.com/2009/03/where-the-worlds-first-transatlantic-email-was-sent-from/#comment-1234 Just|Mike Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:27:51 +0000 http://blog.feralabs.com/?p=361#comment-1234 Agree! Blue plaque ftw! Agree! Blue plaque ftw!

]]> By: Tom Wright http://blog.webnographer.com/2009/03/where-the-worlds-first-transatlantic-email-was-sent-from/#comment-1233 Tom Wright Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:43:27 +0000 http://blog.feralabs.com/?p=361#comment-1233 The antiquity of the licensed email clients at Sussex should have been a clue, but I honestly had no idea. A blue plaque would be perfect. The antiquity of the licensed email clients at Sussex should have been a clue, but I honestly had no idea. A blue plaque would be perfect.

]]> By: Danny Hope http://blog.webnographer.com/2009/03/where-the-worlds-first-transatlantic-email-was-sent-from/#comment-1232 Danny Hope Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:57:41 +0000 http://blog.feralabs.com/?p=361#comment-1232 Sound s like a great idea, as long as we can be sure it's true. Sound s like a great idea, as long as we can be sure it’s true.

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