Ward Christensen - 1945/10/23 - 2024/10/11 (78 years)⌗

Ward Christensen was a pioneer whose contributions laid the foundation for much of the online world we know today. His passing on October 11, 2024, marks the loss of a visionary who, alongside Randy Suess, helped create the first bulletin board system (BBS), a groundbreaking innovation that connected people in ways never before imagined.

Back in 1978, when the idea of communicating with others via a computer was still in its infancy, Ward Christensen and Randy Suess saw an opportunity to leverage their technical knowledge to build something transformative. They created the CBBS, or Computerised Bulletin Board System, in Chicago during a particularly harsh winter. That vision not only pioneered what would eventually evolve into today’s online forums, message boards, and social media platforms but also helped foster a sense of community among early computer enthusiasts.

Christensen’s XMODEM protocol also became another cornerstone of digital communication. It enabled file transfers over telephone lines, making it easier for users to exchange information long before the rise of the internet as we know it. The elegance and efficiency of his work made it a standard in early networking, and countless users benefited from his innovations, whether they knew his name or not.

Randy Suess, who passed away in 2019, was an equally important figure in this partnership. While Ward laid out the software, Randy’s hardware expertise allowed the vision to come to life, and together, they built the framework that many systems followed.

Their work stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and ingenuity, giving birth to an online culture that has evolved into an essential part of our daily lives. Though both Christensen and Suess are now gone, their contributions will endure in the millions of connections they made possible.

In a world that is now so connected, it’s hard to imagine the days of early computing without their influence. They brought the concept of virtual community to life-something many of us experience every day, even if it’s now so ubiquitous that it goes unnoticed.

Rest in peace, Ward Christensen. Your legacy will live on in the digital landscape you helped build. May your modulator/demodulator remain in ATH in peace and tranquility.