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The History of Horizon BBS1994 through 2002 Horizon Operated in Southern California (805/661) with 4 nodes at one point. In 1994 (when I was 14) Horizon originally began as KitFox BBS then switched names in early 1994. During these times Horizon provided dialup services, email in late 1996 and fidonet throughout its history. 2002 to Current Horizon is now a reminder of the early days. A relic of time, the BBS. Bulletin Board Systems grew out of date to the internet which began its boom around 1995, and took off at an unimaginable rate. BBS's -quickly- died to the birth of the internet. Software developers scrambled to make they're BBS products internet compatible, user friendly and web based. Almost all of these efforts failed. Company, after company folded. Soon BBS's became a dream of the past. The once ran single node BBS by a sysop who had a dedicated phone line, got 30 calls a day. Users playing Games, sending messages and e-mail now was lucky to receive one or two calls a day. The BBS scene was dead Why is Horizon still up? Horizon is a reminder of the earlier days of multi-user interconnection via computer based telecommunications. It is here to remind everyone that BBS's and some of they're fundamentals are designs we developed upon when the internet was being built. BBSs'ers (commonly known as) migrated towards the internet bringing their ideas and downfalls into the new millenium. That's right, 1994 to 2008 Baby! And we're still here! Why was Horizon shut down? Try working two full jobs and maintaining a BBS to the standards of all the users. Around 1996 I went into dialup internet service, to DSL, and now I am a full-featured voip provider, still making sure messages get through and new technology over PSTN gets developed :). What is VoIP? According to the FCC: "VoIP services convert your voice into a digital signal that travels over the Internet. If you are calling a regular phone number, the signal is converted to a regular telephone signal before it reaches the destination. VoIP can allow you to make a call directly from a computer, a special VoIP phone, or a traditional phone connected to a special adapter. In addition, wireless "hot spots" in locations such as airports, parks, and cafes allow you to connect to the Internet and may enable you to use VoIP service wirelessly. " VoIP uses internet technology rather than standard telephony circuits to operate. VoIP enables the user to utilize greater control, features and ease of use out of a telephony technology than regular Plain Telephone network lines by means of software more so than hardware to allow more ease of use and features than a normal POTS line. Why Were BBS's here? BBS's were'nt just a "bulletin board". Many people used BBS's and modules within the bbs software to communicate in several different ways, rather than just posting a bulletin. Message Forums, File Downloads, Games, Chat, and more were available. There were many different ways a BBS could be utilized to fit ANY need, and all TEXT based!. Drivers were available for download from such companies as 3dfx and ATI, support was available from such companies as Galacticomm and Mustang Software. It was yes, a more "primitive" was of communicating compared to the modern day internet, but BBS's to this day are still being adapted to new technology so they will be around for some time to come. |
