Ward Christensen: The BBS Pioneer Who Shaped Retrotech and Online Communities
The Legacy of BBS in Online Culture
Ward Christensen, co-inventor of the computer bulletin board system (BBS), died at age 78 in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. With Randy Suess, he created the first BBS in Chicago in 1978, initiating a significant cultural era of digital community-building that continues to influence our online world.
A Humble Innovator's Journey
Friends and associates describe Christensen as humble and unassuming, a quiet innovator who never sought the spotlight for his groundbreaking work. Despite establishing one of the foundational technologies of the digital age, he enjoyed a modest career at IBM and faced the rise of the internet without bitterness.
Remembering Ward
“Ward was the quietest, pleasantest, gentlest dude,” said Jason Scott, creator of BBS: The Documentary, reflecting on their discussions and Christensen's vast influence. In a 2002 interview, Scott underscored the essence of Christensen as a dedicated craftsman, reminiscent of a gardener nurturing a digital landscape.
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