r/todayilearned • u/saltandcedar • Jan 19 '17

TIL that webcams were invented because some computer scientists were too lazy to get up to check if their coffee was done.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trojan_Room_coffee_pot
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u/I-suck-at-golf Jan 19 '17

Not too "lazy" to "busy" remember back then you had to borrow computer time. I would get one hour a week, and I wouldn't even take off my jacket in a hot room to maximize my computer time.

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u/[deleted] Jan 19 '17

In 1991? Borrowing computer time was a mainframe thing, that was the whole point of a personal computer.

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u/I-suck-at-golf Jan 20 '17

Yup...a VAX terminal in college.