"LO" and Behold: The First Message on the Internet T-shirt

Celebrate the historic moment that marked the first-ever message sent over the internet with this t-shirt featuring a simplified diagram.

On October 29, 1969, at 10:30 PM, computer science pioneers at UCLA and Stanford Research Institute (SRI) sent the first message over the ARPANET, the precursor to the modern internet. The message was sent from UCLA to SRI using the SDS Sigma 7 computer at UCLA and the SDS 940 computer at SRI, connected via Interface Message Processors (IMPs).

The intended message "LOGIN" was truncated to "LO" due to a system crash. This pivotal moment, overseen by Leonard Kleinrock of UCLA and carried out by Charley Kline (UCLA) and Bill Duvall (SRI), marked the inception of global digital communication.

• Historic Event: This t-shirt commemorates the first message sent over ARPANET, which later evolved into the internet we use today. The message "LO" was sent on October 29, 1969, marking a pivotal moment in technology history.
• Equipment Used: The message was transmitted from an SDS Sigma 7 computer at UCLA to an SDS 940 computer at SRI. Both computers were connected via Interface Message Processors (IMPs), which were the first packet switches in the ARPANET network.
• People Involved: The event was supervised by Leonard Kleinrock, a prominent figure in computer science from UCLA. The actual transmission was carried out by graduate student Charley Kline at UCLA, with Bill Duvall receiving the message at SRI. Check out this video of Professor Kleinrock discussing the transmission of the first host-to-host message via ARPANET.
• Technical Details: The intended message "LOGIN" was meant to establish a login session, but due to a system crash, only "LO" was successfully sent. This crash and subsequent successful login attempt highlighted the robustness and potential of packet-switched networking.
• Legacy: The ARPANET's success demonstrated the viability of packet switching and set the stage for the development of the internet. This foundational technology has since transformed global communication, commerce, and information sharing.

This graphic t-shirt not only celebrates a historical technological milestone but also honors the equipment and individuals that made it possible. Perfect for tech enthusiasts, historians, and anyone fascinated by the origins of the internet.