text messaging turned 20 today

[the_tyrant]

Finnish engineer Matti Makkonen famously dreamed up the idea for the SMS (http://www.engadget.com/tag/SMS/) (Short Message Service) in a Copenhagen pizza shop in 1984, and the first message ("Happy Christmas") was sent to a Vodafone UK cellphone from a PC on December 3, 1992. Since then, an estimated 8 trillion texts have been sent, and now the normally recalcitrant pioneer has given the BBC a rare interview (appropriately via text message), where he discussed "txtspk,' keypads vs. touchscreens, and the next big tech development.


http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/03/twenty-year-sms-anniversary-matti-makkinen/

Oddly enough, the world's first smartphone was released 5 days before the text message. The smartphone turned 20 5 days ago.

[Jimbuna]

I seldom use texts, much prefer to talk.

[Aces]

I know it's taken me two decades at the rate that I type to finish the $!$¬ text. :D

I started in 1992 but I've forgotten who I was sending the darned thing to now! :D

[vienna]

text messaging turned 20 today


OMG!!...

<O>

[Sailor Steve]

I hate texting. I hate typing with my thumbs.

[Gerald]

^Use the index finger instead, if you must text and send,:yep:

[yubba]

Wow,,just came off of facebook, a freind posted a picture of a red corvette wedged under a tractor trailer ,, story goes the guy was test driving the car and was texting they found the phone in his hand and his head in the back seat... Ta da to stupid to live

[Jimbuna]

The joys of using a moble whilst driving a vehicle.

[Betonov]

I prefer sms over talking.

I hate having to open my mouth

[Gerald]

But if you meet a girl, so it is inevitable not to open your mouth,:D

[Jimbuna]

I prefer sms over talking.

I hate having to open my mouth

We've noticed :O:

[Takeda Shingen]

My feelings on texting depend on the context. If it is work-related, I prefer texting. If it is a personal friend, I prefer talking.

[Gerald]

Better to talk,:yep:

[Herr-Berbunch]

^Use the index finger instead, if you must text and send,:yep:

What about texting and not sending, should I still use my index finger?

[Gerald]

What about texting and not sending, should I still use my index finger? That's fine, but since I do not send much SMS ... and for your part now, as damaged, so use what is most comfortable,:hmmm:

[Jimbuna]

Better to talk,:yep:

I wouldn't have thought so at the rate of textual responses your making :har:

[Gerald]

I wouldn't have thought so at the rate of textual responses your making :har: But in IRL it's different .. then there will be talks,and sometimes many calls for things to work well,:yep:

[Jimbuna]

But in IRL it's different .. then there will be talks,and sometimes many calls for things to work well,:yep:

You mean like in a parallel universe kind of context?

[Gerald]

You mean like in a parallel universe kind of context? I mean in relation to my work,but also in other contexts,:yep:

[Jimbuna]

Okay.

[Platapus]

I wonder how long it will be (could have already happened) until we have a cellular communication device that will only do texting and the computer/web apps and no voice communication capability at all?

[the_tyrant]

I wonder how long it will be (could have already happened) until we have a cellular communication device that will only do texting and the computer/web apps and no voice communication capability at all?


My old palm pilot did that:O:

[yubba]

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s480x480/394727_4276785682304_2010213719_n.jpgI was mistaken it wasn't a test drive but it was a red corvette at one time or another,, but he was still texting,,I wonder why you don't see motorcyclcist texting?????.What was so important..?????

[Jimbuna]

I was mistaken it wasn't a test drive but it was a red corvette at one time or another,, but he was still texting,,I wonder why you don't see motorcyclcist texting?????.What was so important..?????

A couple of friends of mine witnessed pretty much that scenario last week...totally unnecessary and such an avoidable waste :nope:

[vienna]

A few years back, the Metropolitan Transit Agency (MTA) here in Southern California started a "busway system" that created dedicated bus routes using old, abandoned rail right-of-ways. Rather than go to the expense of ripping up old existing tracks, putting in new tracks and systems for new rail service, they just ripped up the old track, levelled the trackbed, paved it, and used it for buses designed to carry large volumes of passengers. Much was made by critics of possible hazards to pedestrians and motorists at the "grade crossings" and other points along the track. There was even a demand by some religious congregations the project be scrapped because congregation memebers routinely used to illegally cross over the right-of-ways as a shorcut to get to the services. The project went ahead anyway and many safety efforts were made, including light and sound warning systems and a large amount of signage...


The system opened and, almost immediately, there were accidents involving the buses and passenger vehicles at the crossings. Critic were quick to jump up and say "We told you so, the busway is dangerous!". The smugness disappeared when investigation of all the accidents proved out the the drivers of the passenger cars were at fault and had ignored warning signs and lights. And, why did they ignore the warnings? In every case the drivers were either talking on a handheld cell or texting. No drunk or reckless drivers, just drivers who, for some reason, seem to believe whatever they were talking about or texting was more important than the safety of others around them or themselves...

<O>