EOTO Reflection: The First Email

While watching the EOTO presentations, one of the presentations that caught my attention focused on the first email sent in 1971 by Raymond Tomlinson. Tomlinson was a computer engineer at Bolt Beranek and Newman. His invention was revolutionary, as it enabled communication through ARPANET, a precursor to the modern internet. The ability to send messages between different computers completely changed how people connected, paving the way for the digital communication era we live in today.

I found it particularly interesting to learn about the first spam email, sent by Gary Thuerk, who worked for a computer company. His decision to send an email advertising a new computer model, which ultimately generated $13 million in sales from just 400 users, earned him the title of "the father of spam." This highlights how quickly businesses recognized the potential of email as a marketing tool, even if it came with some unintended consequences later down the line. For example, many of us deal with very full spam folders of information we do not want or need.

Another fascinating fact was that Bill Clinton became the first U.S. president to have a public email address. However, he reportedly only sent two emails during his presidency, one of which was to Senator John Glenn while he was in space. While this is not as many as I would've expected, it is fascinating to know that one of the first emails from a president was sent to outerspace.

The invention of email has proven to be extremely significant, becoming the primary mode of communication in professional settings. I appreciate that email doesn't require an instant response, unlike text messages, allowing for more thoughtful and composed communication. It’s crazy to think that just a few decades ago, this technology didn’t exist. Reflecting on how deeply ingrained email has become in our daily lives, both personally and professionally, makes me realize how far we’ve come in such a short time. This presentation not only showcased the key developments in email technology but also helped me realize just how crucial email is for connecting people all around the world today.