Internet bench, Internet bench in Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds, England.
The Internet bench in Abbey Gardens is a seating structure with four individual seats that once featured embedded modem jacks for simultaneous internet access. Today the connections no longer function, but visitors can still use the bench and learn about its technological innovation through an information plaque.
MSN installed this pioneering internet-enabled bench on August 6, 2001, creating the world's first example of its kind. The installation represented an early experiment in bringing digital connectivity to outdoor public spaces.
The bench represents an early attempt to merge public outdoor spaces with digital connectivity, demonstrating the rapid evolution of internet access in England.
The bench sits in Abbey Gardens and is easily accessible to visitors who want to enjoy the seating and quiet surroundings. Plan your visit during the park's opening hours and allow time to read the information plaque that documents its story.
Two teenagers discovered they could make international phone calls from this bench and attempted to reach Bill Gates' secretary. This unexpected use revealed capabilities that went beyond what the original designers had anticipated.
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