Today it is easy to connect with people around the world, thanks to phones and computers that allow you to message, call, or video conference anyone, anywhere. But electronics didn’t always have this capability. Before the invention of the modern computer, computers were programmed with punchcards, and then would print out a result. Instead of the instantaneous process we think of today, there was a long wait time from start to finish. If you wanted to video conference with someone, you couldn’t use a computer (or a smartphone, as those hadn’t been invented), but instead would need a “Picturephone”, a bulky, expensive device that could solely be used for video conferencing.

This changed thanks to work done at SRI International, by Douglas Engelbart. Funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Engelbart’s team created a new computer, called an oN-Line-System (NLS), that had the classic screen associated with computers today, and could be controlled in real time. This computer wasn’t just for working alone; it also enabled the first ever video conferencing on a device that could also perform other tasks. Each user had a video camera and microphone attached to their monitor, which were connected through a microwave link that was captured by receiver dishes.

While this system was considerably clunkier than what we use today, it inspired the future of communication, allowing you to use Zoom, Google Meets, and more.