On February 13, 1971, Ray Tomlinson sent the first email ever, which consisted of a simple test message between computers on the ARPANET system.

Ray Tomlinson, a computer engineer, is credited with this groundbreaking event, and he developed the '@' symbol to differentiate between the user and the computer name.

The success of this email marked the beginning of a new era in communication, gradually leading to the massive adoption of the Internet and email systems globally.

Initial adoption was slow as the Internet was primarily used for research purposes, but email soon became an essential tool for personal and professional communication.

A fun fact is that the first email was sent between two computers that were only a few feet apart, proving that the groundwork for digital communication was laid even in its infancy.

Email has evolved significantly over the years, but the original concept remains integral to how we communicate today.

Tomlinson's decision to use '@' in email addresses set a standard that is universally recognized and still in use today.

Interestingly, Tomlinson never kept a copy of that first email, emphasizing the humble beginnings of what would become an essential part of modern life.

How has email changed the way you communicate with others? Do you think it's mostly positive or negative?