1972

Finally in October the “International Conference on Computer Communication“ (ICCC) takes place in Washington DC. Just one year earlier, in late 1971, Larry Roberts and Bob Kahn determine to present the operating ARPANET to the public with a demonstration at the ICCC.
Joseph Weizenbaum

Early in the year, preparations run at full speed. All network protocols ought to be written, tested and approved. Until October, a presentation has to be set up as well, and neither Roberts nor Kahn wanted anything else but a success.
Part of the presentation consisted of the first chat between two computers. PARRY (P), a paranoid computer program, developed at Stanford by Keneth Colby, interacts with his artificially intelligent psychiatrist ELIZA (E), designed by Joseph Weizenbaum from MIT.
An extract of this conversation: P – People get on my nerves. E – I am not sure I understand you. P – You should pay more attention. E – Suppose you should pay more attention. P – You are entitled to your opinion. E – What makes you think I am entitled to my own opinion?
The other parts of this presentation consisted of an interactive chess match, geographical quiz and a sophisticated air traffic control simulation. Despite some adversities and a crashed computer, ICCC became a huge success for ARPA and their ARPANET.