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CBBS

October 15, 2023

For the Canadian radio station, see CBBS-FM.

CBBS ("Computerized Bulletin Board System") was a computer program created by Ward Christensen and Randy Suess to allow them and other computer hobbyists to exchange information between each other. [1] [2][3]

Splashscreen of the CBBS/Chicago (1978)
Ward Christensen and the CBBS (2005)
The first S-100 Hardware of the CBBS/Chicago (2005)

In January 1978, Chicago was hit by the Great Blizzard of 1978, which dumped record amounts of snow throughout the Midwest. Among those caught in the storm were Christensen and Suess, who were members of CACHE, the Chicago Area Computer Hobbyists' Exchange. They had met at that computer club in the mid-1970s and become friends.

Christensen had created a file transfer protocol for sending binary computer files through modem connections, which was called, simply, MODEM. Later improvements to the program motivated a name change into the now familiar XMODEM. The success of this project encouraged further experiments. CACHE members frequently shared programs and had long been discussing some form of file transfer using modems, and Christensen was naturally at the center of these discussions; however, Suess in particular was skeptical of accomplishing such a project by a volunteer committee. Christensen and Suess became enamored of the extended idea of creating a computerized answering machine and message center, which would allow members to call in with their then-new modems and leave announcements for upcoming meetings.

However, they needed some quiet time to set aside for such a project, and the blizzard gave them that time. Christensen worked on the software and Suess cobbled together an S-100 computer to put the program on.[4] They had a working version within two weeks, but claimed soon afterwards that it had taken four so that it wouldn't seem like a "rushed" project. Time and tradition have settled that date to be February 16, 1978.[5] Christensen and Suess described their innovation in an article entitled "Hobbyist Computerized Bulletin Board" in the November 1978 issue of Byte magazine.[6]

Because the Internet was still small and not available to most computer users, users had to dial CBBS directly using a modem. Also because the CBBS hardware and software supported only a single modem for most of its existence, users had to take turns accessing the system, each hanging up when done to let someone else have access. Despite these limitations, the system was seen as very useful, and ran for many years and inspired the creation of many other bulletin board systems.[7] Ward & Randy would often watch the users while they were online and comment or go into chat if the subject warranted. At times, online users wondered if Ward & Randy actually existed.

The program had many forward thinking ideas, now accepted as canonical in the creation of message bases or "forums".

As Christensen and Suess went their separate ways, the CBBS name lived on, and survives to an extent as a web-based forum on Suess' website, chinet.com. Christensen's version of CBBS, called "Ward's Board", closed in the early 1990s.

On February 16, 2003, Chicago's Mayor Richard M. Daley declared the day "BBS" day in honor of the world's first BBS being created 25 years ago that day.[8] An article with a photo of Ward and the CBBS hardware appeared shortly thereafter in the Chicago Tribune.

There is still at least one active CBBS system as of August 2020. [9]

See also Edit

References Edit

  1. ^ Suess, Randy (20 December 2019). "Randy Suess, Computer Bulletin Board Inventor, Dies at 74". The New York Times. Retrieved 2019-12-22.
  2. ^ "CUSTOMIZED: S-100 KIT COMPUTER: CBBS". Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  3. ^ Jason Scott: BBS: The Documentary (series) at the Internet Archive, 2005, Episode 1
  4. ^ Eric Gottfrid Swedin; David L. Ferro (2005). Computers: The Life Story of a Technology (Illustrated ed.). Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 120. ISBN 0313331499.
  5. ^ Christensen, Ward; Suess, Randy (1989). "The Birth of the BBS". Chinet. Retrieved 2007-02-18.
  6. ^ Christensen, Ward; Suess, Randy (November 1978). "Hobbyist Computerized Bulletin Board". Byte Magazine, vol 3 no 11. pp. 150–157. Retrieved 2009-11-06. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  7. ^ History of the Internet. ABC-Clio. 1999. ISBN 1-57607-118-9.
  8. ^ Kampert, Patrick (16 February 2003), "Low-key pioneer", Chicago Tribune
  9. ^ "CBBS/NV". Telnet BBS Guide. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2020.

https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1978-11-rescan

October 15, 2023
cbbs, canadian, radio, station, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, js. For the Canadian radio station see CBBS FM This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources CBBS news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message CBBS Computerized Bulletin Board System was a computer program created by Ward Christensen and Randy Suess to allow them and other computer hobbyists to exchange information between each other 1 2 3 Splashscreen of the CBBS Chicago 1978 Ward Christensen and the CBBS 2005 The first S 100 Hardware of the CBBS Chicago 2005 In January 1978 Chicago was hit by the Great Blizzard of 1978 which dumped record amounts of snow throughout the Midwest Among those caught in the storm were Christensen and Suess who were members of CACHE the Chicago Area Computer Hobbyists Exchange They had met at that computer club in the mid 1970s and become friends Christensen had created a file transfer protocol for sending binary computer files through modem connections which was called simply MODEM Later improvements to the program motivated a name change into the now familiar XMODEM The success of this project encouraged further experiments CACHE members frequently shared programs and had long been discussing some form of file transfer using modems and Christensen was naturally at the center of these discussions however Suess in particular was skeptical of accomplishing such a project by a volunteer committee Christensen and Suess became enamored of the extended idea of creating a computerized answering machine and message center which would allow members to call in with their then new modems and leave announcements for upcoming meetings However they needed some quiet time to set aside for such a project and the blizzard gave them that time Christensen worked on the software and Suess cobbled together an S 100 computer to put the program on 4 They had a working version within two weeks but claimed soon afterwards that it had taken four so that it wouldn t seem like a rushed project Time and tradition have settled that date to be February 16 1978 5 Christensen and Suess described their innovation in an article entitled Hobbyist Computerized Bulletin Board in the November 1978 issue of Byte magazine 6 Because the Internet was still small and not available to most computer users users had to dial CBBS directly using a modem Also because the CBBS hardware and software supported only a single modem for most of its existence users had to take turns accessing the system each hanging up when done to let someone else have access Despite these limitations the system was seen as very useful and ran for many years and inspired the creation of many other bulletin board systems 7 Ward amp Randy would often watch the users while they were online and comment or go into chat if the subject warranted At times online users wondered if Ward amp Randy actually existed The program had many forward thinking ideas now accepted as canonical in the creation of message bases or forums As Christensen and Suess went their separate ways the CBBS name lived on and survives to an extent as a web based forum on Suess website chinet com Christensen s version of CBBS called Ward s Board closed in the early 1990s On February 16 2003 Chicago s Mayor Richard M Daley declared the day BBS day in honor of the world s first BBS being created 25 years ago that day 8 An article with a photo of Ward and the CBBS hardware appeared shortly thereafter in the Chicago Tribune There is still at least one active CBBS system as of August 2020 9 See also EditBulletin board systemReferences Edit Suess Randy 20 December 2019 Randy Suess Computer Bulletin Board Inventor Dies at 74 The New York Times Retrieved 2019 12 22 CUSTOMIZED S 100 KIT COMPUTER CBBS Retrieved 2014 07 18 Jason Scott BBS The Documentary series at the Internet Archive 2005 Episode 1 Eric Gottfrid Swedin David L Ferro 2005 Computers The Life Story of a Technology Illustrated ed Greenwood Publishing Group p 120 ISBN 0313331499 Christensen Ward Suess Randy 1989 The Birth of the BBS Chinet Retrieved 2007 02 18 Christensen Ward Suess Randy November 1978 Hobbyist Computerized Bulletin Board Byte Magazine vol 3 no 11 pp 150 157 Retrieved 2009 11 06 a href Template Cite magazine html title Template Cite magazine cite magazine a Cite magazine requires magazine help History of the Internet ABC Clio 1999 ISBN 1 57607 118 9 Kampert Patrick 16 February 2003 Low key pioneer Chicago Tribune CBBS NV Telnet BBS Guide 15 July 2020 Retrieved 2 August 2020 https archive org details byte magazine 1978 11 rescan Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title CBBS amp oldid 1175086114, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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