The charm of ASCII smileys :-)
Nowadays, it's easy to forget about ASCII smileys. These simple text faces were the first way to show feelings online. They have a special place in the history of the internet and in my heart.
The story of ASCII smileys starts in the early 1980s. Back then, the internet was just beginning, and people mostly communicated through text. Scott Fahlman, a computer scientist, had an idea. He suggested using :-) for jokes and :-( for serious comments. This small idea changed how we talk online forever.
ASCII smileys are wonderfully simple. Unlike today's emojis, they look the same no matter where you see them. In an email or a text message, they always look familiar. This makes them a reliable way to share feelings.
But their simplicity is deceptive. With just a few keystrokes, you can make many different expressions. Some examples for youngest readers:
For those of us who remember the early days of the internet, ASCII smileys bring back memories. They remind us of simpler times, of chat rooms and the first social media sites.
