Ward Christensen
USAWard Christensen: Developer of the First Electronic Bulletin Board System
Ward Christensen, born in West Bend, Wisconsin, USA, was one of the two developers of the first online bulletin board system (BBS), an electronic message board that allowed computer enthusiasts to exchange information with each other. He came up with the software called CBBS, which enabled users to communicate and share data.
The Birth of CBBS
In January 1978, a massive snowstorm hit Chicago, burying the entire Midwest region in record-breaking snowfall. Among those stranded by the whims of nature were Ward Christensen and Randy Suess, both members of 'CACHE', a computer club in Chicago. They had become friends after meeting in the mid-1970s.
Prior to the storm, Christensen had already created a file transfer protocol called MODEM, which allowed binary files to be sent between computers via modem connections. Later, he developed an enhanced program called XMODEM, which became the most popular file transfer protocol at the time.
The Creation of the CBBS
Christensen and Suess were fascinated by the idea of creating a "computerized answering machine" and a "message center", which would allow users to enter a specific phone number and establish a communication session. However, they never found the time or opportunity to pursue the idea seriously. The blizzard of 1978 became the catalyst that motivated Christensen and Suess to finally bring their idea to life.
While Christensen worked on the software, Suess assembled the S-100 bus to test the program. They spent about four weeks on the project, and on February 16, 1978, the first version of CBBS was officially born. They shared their invention in an article titled "Hobbyist Computerized Bulletin Board," published in November 1978 in Byte magazine.
The Impact of CBBS
At the time, the internet was only accessible to the military and scientists, so most computer users accessed BBS directly through a modem. Due to the limitations of the hardware and software, CBBS could only support one modem at a time. Users had to disconnect as soon as they finished typing their message to allow the recipient to read it. Despite these limitations, the system was considered highly useful and remained in operation for many years, inspiring the creation of other electronic bulletin board systems.
Awards and Recognition
Over time, Christensen and Suess went their separate ways. Christensen's version of the BBS, named "Ward's Board," was eventually shut down in the 1990s. In 1992, Christensen received two Dvorak Awards for his outstanding achievements in telecommunications. The first award, shared with Suess, was given for the development of the first BBS. The second award was presented to Christensen for his significant contributions to PC communication networks.
In 1993, he was honored with the Pioneer Award from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) for his pioneering work. In 2003, the mayor of Chicago, Richard M. Daley, declared February 16th as "BBS Day" in honor of the 25th anniversary of its invention. Shortly after, the Chicago Tribune published an accompanying article featuring a photograph of Ward Christensen and CBBS.
Life and Career
Ward Christensen worked at IBM from 1968 until his retirement in 2012, maintaining a long and successful career in the tech industry.
