19 September 2002

Oldest Known Smiley Unearthed. The Register reports that after an exhaustive search, Microsoft Research has found the first known use of an "emoticon," those smiley things like this: : - ) Given the transient nature of so much online content, it's actually a pretty impressive feat of archeology. It turns out that, unless prior art can be demonstrated, emoticon usage was first proposed exactly 20 years ago next week. [Over the Edge] 6:56:08 AM    comment()