In 1982, the emoticon was born.
Research Professor Scott E. Fahlman at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh proposed the use of an emoticon to express humor for the first time anywhere. Here is his original post to the Carnegie Mellon University Computer Science department’s general bulletin board:
19-Sep-82 11:44 Scott E Fahlman : – )
From: Scott E Fahlman
I propose that the following character sequence for joke markers:
: – )
Read it sideways. Actually, it is probably more economical to mark
things that are NOT jokes, given current trends. For this, use
: – (
Learn more at http://www.wired.com/thisdayintech/2011/09/0919fahlman-proposes-emoticons/.