A true pioneer has died: Ray Tomlinson passed away yesterday at the age of 74.
In 1971, Tomlinson, then a programmer at R&D company Bolt Beranek and Newman, sent the first person-to-person message to a different computer: the first email. He also chose the at symbol—@—to be the crucial link between single users’ identities and their networks, transforming what had been an obscure sign used for accounting into one of the most recognizable features of the Internet Age.
Of all of the well-deserved encomia from tech companies and journalists yesterday and today, my favorite bit comes from an article at The Guardian:
According to a 1998 profile in Forbes magazine, Tomlinson showed a colleague his invention and then, famously, said: “Don’t tell anyone! This isn’t what we’re supposed to be working on.”
“This isn’t what we’re supposed to be working on.” In that one sentence, Mr. Tomlinson captures the playful, creative essence of innovation—the drive to try, to tinker, to toy, not for recognition or prestige, not for a paycheck or high marks on a quarterly review, not even with a clear end goal in mind, but because poking, prodding, and pushing things is fun.
It is hard to overstate the impact of email on the world since 1971. It has changed the way we communicate, the way we work, the way we live. The simple encircled “a” that Tomlinson chose to mark his new invention has become ubiquitous across the globe.
At Timyo, we would like to add our own small voice to the many accolades rightfully flowing Mr. Tomlinson’s way:
Thanks, Ray, for taking the time to fool around. In doing so, you changed the world.
