W2.2 The Early Days: The Well and BBS
The Early Days
In 1978, the first public BBS was born through the brainpower of by Ward Christensen and Randy Suess. As you begin to watch about the early days of social media, keep a list of the common elements that draw us to modern-day social media and the ways that social media strengthens or hinders relationships between humans.
The BBS
| Watch BBS: The Documentary Links to an external site., filmed by computer historian Jason Scott Sadofsky (@textfiles Links to an external site.) about the subculture surrounding the creation of the bulletin board system (BBS). The first three parts are required watching [approximately 2 hrs 15 min of viewing time]. The remaining parts are optional, but are listed below in case you get hooked. | ||||
BBS Part 1: Baud
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| BBS Part 2: SysOps and Users
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Keep watching if you are intrigued...
BBS Part 4: Fidonet Links to an external site. BBS Part 5: Artscene Links to an external site. BBS Part 6: HPAC Links to an external site. |
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The Well
| The Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link, abbreviated as "The Well" was born out of the Whole Earth Catalog in 1985. It is considered one of the oldest continually running virtual communities in the world. If you find yourself fascinated with The Well, you can read Howard's book "The Virtual Community" in full text at The Virtual Community website Links to an external site.. | ||
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The Well Party (Part 1)
Links to an external site. Description (via Howard Rheingold): If you think social media started with Facebook, you might be interested in this video of a party by a virtual community, The Well, in 1989. WELL Party scenes courtesy of InCA productions, copyright InCA. |
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The Well Party (Part 2)
Links to an external site. Description (via Howard Rheingold): Second of two excerpts from interviews conducted at a party in Sausalito, California, 1989, convened by the WELL, an early virtual community. The first speaker is Elaine "Booter" Richards, former system administrator for the WELL. Interviews courtesy of and copyright by InCA Productions. |
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Howard Rheingold on the early days of The Well
Links to an external site. Description (via Howard Rheingold): More stories about the WELL, an early virtual community, in the mid to late 1980s. |
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| For a more academic perspective on The Well, read "When the Counterculture met the New Economy: The WELL and the Origins of Virtual Community Links to an external site.", Technology and Culture, Vol.46, No.3 (July, 2005), pp. 485–512. [Note: More footnotes than article in that one.] |