Event 1: Leonard Kleinrock Internet Heritage Site

West side of the room

For one of the events, I decided to go to the Leonard Kleinrock Internet Heritage Site in Boelter Hall. For the past four years that I have been a student at UCLA, I did not know that there was a room honoring the discovery of the internet. As a student here, it is a well-known fact that UCLA was the site where the internet was first tested, in which a message was sent to another computer program in Standford. This idea and method of sharing information between two computers revolutionized the digital world and was the catalyst for further internet development.

East side of the room 

The room opened in 2011 and was restored with the help of the original team. When I visited, a student in the hallway told me that you could not go inside, but you can look through the glass door. I thought it was pretty cool getting a glimpse of such a historical scene. Everything looked pristine and untouched; it is hard to believe that it was not the original scene. The room is painted in a mint green color, similar to the original. In the right corner of the room, you can find the Interface Message Processor, which was used to send the message. Next to it is a replica of the teletype that was connected to the computer that was linked to the Interface Message Processor. On the north wall, there are pictures that documented the historic moment. On the west wall, there is a desk and a blackboard that contains the computer scientists' notes. On the other side of the room are another desk and a cabinet with more informational material.

The IMP on the right 

Going to this site was a cool experience as it allowed me to truly appreciate the work behind the discovery of the internet. The world as we know it now would not be the same without the invention of the digital space. The internet has led to greater accessibility and distribution of information. It has also brought the world closer together as it enhanced communication and shortened the amount of time it takes to send a message. I would recommend others to visit this room to gain an insight into the past of something so important in our lives.