Daily Dooley
- Brittany Perry
- May 9
- 1 min read
Question: Which early 1970s system gave the world its first chat room?
Answer: The Emergency Management Information System and Reference Index (EMISARI).
Chat rooms were first invented by Murray Turoff in 1971 as part of the EMISARI,
a groundbreaking computer-based communication system developed for the U.S. Office of Emergency Preparedness. It featured a "Party Line" function, which allowed multiple users to engage in a real-time, text-based group conversation—essentially the first chat room.
This concept later evolved into the chat rooms we know today, popularized by services like AOL (America Online) and Internet Relay Chat (IRC) in the 1990s.
Why "Dooley?"
Inspired by the founder's alma mater - Emory University's spirit mascot, Dooley represents the voice of the student body. And when Dooley shows up to your class, you can count on a fun time and the rest of the day off!
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