Friday, June 1, 2012

Shiva (Ayyadurai) Defended as Inventor of EMAIL

Back in March, I posted a link to a Gizmodo story about a man whose claims to have invented e-mail the author presented as a sort of translation error. V.A. Shiva Ayyadurai invented a program called "EMAIL." Others claimed to have invented the concept of e-mail first. I suspected the story was being aired on a Republican-oriented web site as an inducement to comedians to come up with Al Gore jokes.

Apparently there's more to it. Someone posted a live link to what appears to be a legitimate, informative web page presenting Shiva Ayyadurai's case. Because we've declared a policy banning live links from the comments section, and because I didn't intend to take sides in a serious lawsuit, and because it does appear that a teenager working alone on his own time really did invent a working e-mail program, I'm reposting that link here:

http://www.inventorofemail.com/

Many interesting links, including a statement of support from the great linguist and controversial philosopher Noam Chomsky.

This web site discusses more of what Shiva Ayyadurai's doing now:

http://www.vashiva.com/

I have, as the saying goes, no dog in this race--no personal interest in any further decision that remains to be made on Shiva Ayyadurai's place in history. Though I do think the idea of a fourteen-year-old boy having invented either one of several independently written e-mail programs, or the first such program that worked in use, makes a terrific story.

88 comments:

  1. Thank you for posting this. You have shown more courage than many journalists who simply cut and pasted the vitriol of Gizmodo. The facts clearly show that V.A. Shiva Ayyadurai invented email --- email is the interoffice, inter-organizational mail system in electronic form.

    The term nor the invention did not exist prior to 1978. The facts are indisputable --- it is sad to see a bunch of old grown men throwing tantrum --- men who are not satisfied for the work they have already done --- but NOT email.

    Once gain Priscilla, we appreciate your courage --- many kudos to you.
    AD & Gang

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  2. Don't think the Indian government will felicitate him... If I remember right, Shiva has already had a run-in with the coterie at CSIR.

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  3. Wonder what will be the response of a big consortium led by Raytheon? If this is true, then Raytheon may have some problem but no idea which way courts will go.

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  4. yes, the site seems to set the facts right and doing heck of a job of it!

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  5. Also appreciate your thought in posting this correction.

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  6. Thanks for getting out the facts

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  7. This is a great news for the Indian community as the inventor of e-mail is an Indian after all. Thanks for posting this News.

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  8. very nice to hear this great news!!!!

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  9. From Now, You Should be Called as "Father of
    E-Mail"......!!!!!

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  10. Shiva saved millions of trees, due to his invention.

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  11. Just went thru the site http://www.inventorofemail.com . It looks like this recognition has come a little late; but better than never I guess...

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  12. Thanks for presenting the facts

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  13. appreciate your thought in posting this.

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  14. It is indeed a terrific story; only, it seems to be true...!

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  15. Thank you Priscilla for this post. You are not afraid to tell the truth and it is a very great good journalism. Kudos to you and to Shiva for being the inventor of email.

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  16. It is great to know that clarity has come out finally on who really invented the e-mail. While we should appreciate the person who has invented it first, that is Shiva Ayyadurai, we also regret the fact that there are people who seek undue publicity using their PR machine, saying they are the ones who invented it. Your posts and supportive links put rest all those stories. Thank you Priscilla for clarifying it.

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  17. This is a very good journalism.

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  18. Thanks for presenting the true facts

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  19. Wish this recognition had come sooner...surprised Indian media has not noticed this.

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  20. This is a great news for all Indians as it is an Indian who has invented the first EMAIL system in the world. Wow.....

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  21. Thanks, Priscilla. Someone finally had the gumption to post the facts. Kudos to Noam Chomsky, for supporting the cause of the independent inventor.

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  22. Really great achievement!!!!!!

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  23. This is a great news for all Indians as it is an Indian who has invented the first EMAIL system in the world.

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  24. It is time to party after all that hard work. Congratulations!

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  25. You explore the truth, regarding the "Inventor of E-mail"

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  26. Thanks for the providing some insights in to the Invention of email

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  27. You are my inspiration, Shiva.

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  28. Appreciating your effort to bring the truth

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  29. Email: The one killer application that we just cannot do without. Thank you, Shiva!!!

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  30. very nice to hear this great news!!!!

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  31. I appreciate your thought.........

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  32. Really Great Achivement.........

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  33. Really Great Achievement.........

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  34. Am surprised,You are my inspiration..........

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  35. You did a great job. Indeed, a huge achievement. Congratulations.

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  36. Thanks for getting out the facts

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  37. Thank you for posting the real facts

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  38. Thanks for presenting the facts

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  39. Thanks for presenting the facts

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  40. I appreciate your thought.........

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  41. Congratulations for the outstanding performance! God bless!

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  42. Well done, you deserved the success. Congratulations to you.

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  43. Thank you for posting the real facts

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  44. Thanks for presenting real facts

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