SMS Text

 Blog #4

  

                                                   SMS Text Messages

    In todays society, texting is one of the most important uses of technology. Everyone uses it to let someone know they are on there way to a meeting, an event of some sort, to catch up with people, to send information, and really however they want. Personally, I have not lived in a world where texting was not a thing, but many people have. It is such a simple concept to the world now, for instance if you have a phone and you do not text, why are you using it? That sounds like a crazy question but it is the facts of it all. Phones and all of the applications inside of them have become so extreme over the past years that if you were to show someone from the 1800's a phone, they would not know how to even describe it. By now I am sure you are wondering, "Who came up with texting?" Well, let me tell you. 

There is much background to this story, but I will start by telling you that the concept of SMS texting came about from two men named Friedhelm Hillebrand and Bernard Ghillebaert in 1984. Telegraphing had already been an action since 1837, which is more than 100 years before the SMS text thought came through. Years passed by and the first messaging network came about in 1971 from the University of Hawaii. They had used ALOHAnet to send ultra-high frequency radio waves that carried messages. 

Now, back to Hillebrand and Ghillebaert, in 1984. The concept was created, but only allowed users to send 160 characters per text message. Some might think that this was not enough to convey in a text to someone, but, Hillebrand argued that it was plenty. He would sit down at a type-writer and form random sentences that you would usually text someone. That is how he got the average number of characters they should propose for the SMS. Even though these two showed the world the concept of SMS texting, there had to be some engineers or computer scientists involved, right? Yes, his name was Matti Makkonen who had worked at the company Nokia. He does not like to credit himself though, as there were many others who were involved.

The first text message was sent in 1992 by a man named Neil Papworth. "What did the text read?" It was actually a sweet message that had typed out "Merry Christmas." to his friend by the name of Richard Jarvis. Then in 1993, Nokia released the first phone that could send a text message from anywhere. Later on in that year, an engineer by the name of Brennan Hayden sent the first commercial text that read "burp." It did not have any correlation with the human function, but instead he meant "birth," as in the birth of texting. 

Since then, all around the world SMS texting has been one of the most popular applications on the phone. Many people, like older generations, have some negative outlooks on texting. Some of those opinions are that it stops kids or teenagers from actually talking to each other, fostering social isolation, increasing risks of some disorders like ADHD, and much more. Even though those individuals see the dark, there are many others, like actual scientists that disagree. 

An article written on The Washington Post discusses that scientists have stated that texting can improve relationship with others and even help people with traumatic events. Numerous families or friends go a very long time without seeing each other in person or having time to talk on the phone, but texting makes it better for them to communicate on their own times and still have a connection. Even psychologists from the University at Berkley found that "sending and receiving text messages boosted texters' moods when they were feeling upset or lonely."

On the professional side of things, SMS texting has helped communities and jobs stay connected even when the day is over. They can send left over information, work with others while not being present in person.... the possibilities are endless. SMS texting has changed the way people communicate and share information, personally, only for the better.