Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Did you know that disabled people played an important role in the first moves towards the way we now chat with each other online, almost without giving it a second thought? Well, it's true, and we have the video evidence to prove it.

Discovered via an about all the ancient (well, the 1990s) videos lurking on Youtube which show the very beginnings of the internet as we know it, the clip above reveals how, way back in 1993, T.K. Kan ran a Bulletin Board System (BBS) called 'Community Access' from racks of green-screen monitors, beige plastic computers and huge modems all crammed into his spare bedroom. Using this technology, six people could log in at the same time, over their dial-up connections, and talk to each other. Just six people.

And who were these users? Well, Mr Kan's aim was that they would be us - disabled people. His goal was to use this technology to help people with disabilities to get online, communicate with each other, and build a supportive community. The clip goes on to show a disabled user called Paul, who operated a computer using a head-pointer, enthusiastically posting a message on the Community Access BBS.

In many ways, then, what you're seeing in this clip is the roots of the Ouch! messageboard. Though in 2009, rather more than six people can use our service, we're glad to say.