Electronic Mail and Text Messaging in CTSS, 1965-1973

Applications from prior technologies are often reimplemented on new computing or communications platforms, and users sometimes don´t realize that the applications have been recycled. For example, text messaging was available between computer users for years before its implementation on cell phones, and email has precursors before its implementation on the Internet. Noel Morris and author Tom Van Vleck implemented both an electronic mail command and a text messaging facility for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology´s Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS) in 1965. This new ability encouraged users to share information in new ways.