Kevin Driscoll, author and associate professor of Media Studies at University of Virginia, discusses the history of BBSs, or bulletin board systems, and how they have been overlooked as part of the history of the internet. Developing out of his early experiences with local online communities, Kevin approaches the history of the internet from a grassroots perspective, offering up true stories and examples of how everyday people developed communities online. He outlines how BBSs, from the late 1970s to the 1980s, develop from a space for computer club members to share information to a place where marginalized groups, for example gay men, could gather online. Using BBS lists that were either regional or interest-oriented, Driscoll has been able to uncover the various communities and practices of early online interactions that laid the groundwork for contemporary online social groups and platforms.
A full transcript of this episode will be available soon!
Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper:
Kevin Driscoll Bio
Book, The Modem World
Fred Turner’s Research on The Well
Howard Rheingold’s Research on The Well
Byte Magazine Vol. 3 number 11 featuring Christensen and Suess Article on CBBSs
Kristen Haring’s Work on Postwar Ham Radio Culture
Susan Douglas’ Work on Ham Radio Culture
Charlton McIlwain’s Work on AfroNet
Relevant Background Information:
WIRED Article on The Well
Minitel
Quartz Article on Stacy Horne and Echo
MIT Project Athena
Internet as Third Space
Sherry Turkle
Amy Bruckman
Check out our previous episodes with Howard Rheingold and Sherry Turkle
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Music:
“In Time” by Dylan Emmett
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In Time (Instrumental) by Dylan Emmet
https://soundcloud.com/dylanemmet
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream:
https://bit.ly/in-time-instrumental
Music promoted by Audio Library
https://youtu.be/AzYoVrMLa1Q
