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Category Archives: This day in information
The WELL: Oldest continuing online community
Today in 1985, The Whole Earth ‘Lectronic Link (the WELL) opened for business, allowing customers to register on-line to use it for $8 per month plus $2 per hour. The Well was started by Stewart Brand and Larry Brilliant as a dial-up bulletin board system … Continue reading
First photograph of a solar eclipse
Today in 1857, Frederick Langenheim took the first photograph of a solar eclipse. From the Metropolitan Museum website: “In 1841-42, William and Frederick Langenheim opened a daguerreotype studio in Philadelphia. Known for their technical innovations the former journalists were not … Continue reading
Posted in Photography, This day in information
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First U.S. Moon Shot
Today in 1840, John William Draper presented to the Lyceum of Natural History of New York a daguerreotype of the “first representation of the moon’s surface ever taken by photography.” As the Once and Future Moon blog notes, today is also “the 100th … Continue reading
First Broadcast by Ham Radio Operator
Today in 1909, Einar Dessau of Denmark used a shortwave transmitter to converse with a government radio post about six miles away in what is believed to have been the first broadcast by a ‘ham’ radio operator.
Posted in Radio, This day in information
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Moving Pictures: Zoopraxiscope
Today in 1882, Eadweard Muybridge lectured at the Royal Institution in London in front of a sellout audience, demonstrating the Zoopraxiscope, a device for projecting motion pictures that pre-dated the flexible perforated film strip. An 1878 experiment by Muybridge in the United States using 24 … Continue reading
Posted in Film, Photography, This day in information
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Race Against the Machine Watch
Today in 1811, the first Luddite attack in which knitting frames were actually smashed occurred in the Nottinghamshire village of Arnold. Kevin Binfield, Writings of the Luddites: “The grievances consisted, first, of the sue of wide stocking frames to produce … Continue reading
If You Can’t Beat Them, Join Them
Today in 2002, the lawsuit that was filed by Random House against e-book publisher Rosetta Books for acquiring titles directly from authors, was decided in favor of Rosetta Books. The court’s decision paved the way for authors to publish their work electronically, … Continue reading
Posted in Apple, Books, ebooks, This day in information
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The Web Oscarized
Today in 1997 was the first year of the annual Webby Award event, which was the first-ever nationally televised awards ceremony devoted to the Internet. 700 people attended the event at Bimbo’s Night Club in San Francisco. Also today, Queen Elizabeth … Continue reading
Posted in This day in information, World Wide Web
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“Homebrew and How the Apple Came to Be”
Today in 1975, the Homebrew Computer Club met for the first time. Wikipedia: “Several very high-profile hackers and IT entrepreneurs emerged from its ranks, including the founders of Apple Inc. The short-lived newsletter they published was instrumental in creating the … Continue reading
Posted in Apple, Computer history, PCs, This day in information
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The First U.S. Census
Today in 1790 Congress passed the Census Act of 1790 and President George Washington signed the law, which authorized the collection of population data by U.S. Marshals. Although the act included the specific inquiries marshals asked at each home they visited, they … Continue reading
Posted in Censuses, This day in information
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The Story of Information 