Ben Smith

Media & Emerging Tech | Founder Resilient Summit, Social IRL, ConfabuLarryum MakerEd | Retro Tech Collector | Social voice of @UnionStationKC | #NASAsocial

[Ben Smith @benasmith]

How it all started. This video clip from 1969 shows Ralph Baer playing ping pong on his "Brown Box" video game concept. This same Brown Box was demonstrated to Magnavox OTD in 1970 and resulted in the creation of the Magnavox Odyssey and the birth of the home video game industry

[Ben Smith @benasmith]

The origins of @Atari. Displayed at @ComputerHistory, the 1972 Pong prototype originally placed in Andy Capp’s bar in Sunnyvale. And the 1975 Jolt-based prototype of the iconic Atari 2600

#retrocomputers #retrocomputing #retrogaming #atari

[Ben Smith @benasmith]

NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita Williams leaving the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building and heading to Launch Complex 41 for tonight’s Starliner launch

#starliner #nasa

[Ben Smith @benasmith]

An unbelievably cool surprise visit from NASA’s Artemis 2 astronauts while visiting launch complex 41 earlier this morning. And what an incredibly fun and generous group they were, spending time chatting, answering questions, and taking photos.

[Ben Smith @benasmith]

Launch day! And this morning, we had the opportunity for a pre-launch visit to Launch Complex 41, where Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft sits atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, ready to launch late this evening. The launch will be the first crewed Starliner flight and the first crewed Atlas 5 flight. It will carry NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to and from the International Space Station on a trip designed to test Boeing’s spacecraft and certify it for regular missions to the ISS. Importantly, mission success will represent another significant milestone in the development of the commercial space industry while giving NASA a second partner for getting astronauts in to space.

#starliner #nasa

[Ben Smith @benasmith]

Mammatus clouds rolling in over Lawrence this evening ahead of the forecast storms

#kswx #kansasweather

[Ben Smith @benasmith]

Another classic video game anniversary today. This time, Dig Dug. First released by Namco in Japan on April 19, 1982. Brought to the U.S. a couple of months later in May by @Atari

[Ben Smith @benasmith]

A game I spent way too many hours playing, both in the arcade and on my Commodore 64... the @Atari and Midway classic Paperboy was released in arcades across North America 39 years ago today, on April 18, 1985

[Ben Smith @benasmith]

It was the first computer I ever used back in the UK, and it was 43 years ago today Sinclair Research released the ZX81. A favorite in my retro collection today, this #ZX81 shipped the first week of US release and still powers up today with its 3.25MHz Z-80A CPU and 1K of RAM

[Ben Smith @benasmith]

From a trip to Loess Bluffs Wildlife Refuge in Missouri last weekend where more than 1.2 million migratory snow geese are currently gathered. Spectacular to see in person and just about an hour north of Kansas City

[Ben Smith @benasmith]

@Justin__Short We just added new Laser Taylor Swift shows at Union Station. I remember you missed the last shows we had

[Ben Smith @benasmith]

It was 46 years ago today that @Atari released the iconic Video Computer System, maybe better known as the 2600 following a 1982 name change. And for today's anniversary, here's a look at one of my favorite artifacts displayed at @ComputerHistory - the 1975 Steve Mayer and Ron Milner Jolt-based prototype of what would become the Atari VCS #atari #atari2600 #retrogaming

[Ben Smith @benasmith]

The classic 2600 gets a re-release from @atari with the new 2600+. Plays original 2600 and 7800 cartridges, features HDMI output and widescreen mode, includes CX40+ joystick that can also be used with original hardware, and faithfully replicates the design of the 1980 4-switch 2600 just at 80% of the original size for a footprint "easier to fit into modern living spaces." Pre-orders opened today, ships in November https://t.co/TKkEPluMDR

[Ben Smith @benasmith]

It was one of the most significant computers of its time, and it was 43 years ago today on August 3, 1977, that Tandy teamed up with Radio Shack to release the TRS-80.

[Ben Smith @benasmith]

How it all started: This 1969 video clip shows Ralph Baer playing ping pong on his "Brown Box" video game concept. This same Brown Box was demonstrated to Magnavox on July 17, 1970 and resulted in the creation of the Magnavox Odyssey and the birth of the home video game industry

[Ben Smith @benasmith]

@Jeff_CCTuba @Silvertower7 In terms of actual size (not in terms of rail traffic), Union Station KC is actually the third largest train station in the US with an 850,000 sqft building and 20 acre campus.

[Ben Smith @benasmith]

Happy 42nd birthday, Mario! Donkey Kong was released by Nintendo 42 years ago today, on July 9, 1981. Which also means the 42nd anniversary of the first video game appearance by Mario - then known as "Jumpman"

[Ben Smith @benasmith]

As much as I still love this platform, it's good to have options... Looking forward to new conversations and communities. Threads benasmith71

[Ben Smith @benasmith]

Happy 51st anniversary to @Atari. Founded on June 27, 1972, in Sunnyvale CA. To mark today's anniversary, here's a look at one of my favorite artifacts displayed at @ComputerHistory - the 1975 Steve Mayer and Ron Milner Jolt-based prototype of what would become the Atari VCS. And to celebrate, I'll be powering up my own CX-2600 "Heavy Sixer," manufactured in Sunnyvale in 1977

[Ben Smith @benasmith]

I always appreciate a good Kansas City collab…. And dinner last night was definitely a good one. The new (very limited time) @MinskysPizza @joeskc Z-Man Pizza topped with sliced brisket, smoked provolone, onion rings, and Joe’s KC BBQ sauce.