Flashback! The Internet In 1995 | Archives | TODAY
Why Hacker News recommends it
Cited as nostalgic comedy and as an example of media hype and misunderstanding around new technology, often in comparisons to Web3.
What it is
A short compilation of NBC Today show clips from 1994-95 in which hosts and guests puzzle over the World Wide Web and email. It includes Bill Gates and the Today anchors.
Recommended by 0 HN commenters across 0 different months, 2019 to 2023.
What Hacker News said
Cites kkielhofner · 2022-01 · on “The Web3 Fraud”
The Today show was talking about the internet and e-mail in 1994 and 1995. There's video: [this video] The Today show was the top rated news program in its timeslot in this era with 6.3 million viewers [1]. They even display and talk about their e-mail address (at ge.com!) even though they clearly had no idea what it really meant (not uncommon for morning TV). [1] [LINK]
Cites abetusk · 2023-01 · on “USD 4.27B stolen in 2022 in Web3/crypto hacks and scams”
People forget how hyped the internet was circa 1996-2000. During the early days, one of the most popular sites was a web cam pointed at a coffee mug [0] and a webcam pointed at a "lifecaster" showing her everyday life [1]. Email was confusing and misunderstood [2]. Startups were laughed at when they said you would buy pet food online [3] or pay your parking tickets online [4]. Both are so commonplace now as to barely be worth mentioning. You absolutely could be right. Maybe cryptocurrency and the surrounding technology is a fad or hype without any substance but you're making an assumption that the rollout of cryptocurrency adoption should follow the same schedule as dot.com startups. For a p