I'm sure there was some kind of tool to share screens, maybe back to X11? IRC was used in the 90's to let people chat in 10+ groups. I can't remember all the unix-y things that floated about to network, nor all that Sun helped create. Nor can I remember whether IBM (Lotus Notes) or DEC had tools in the 80's. And I'm too lazy to google for it.<p>Here's one: <a href="https://thoughtsofanidlemind.com/2012/12/14/vax-notes/" rel="nofollow">https://thoughtsofanidlemind.com/2012/12/14/vax-notes/</a><p>Our field has no memory of its past: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PLATO_(computer_system)" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PLATO_(computer_system)</a><p>And people got bored back then, or wanted to hack new things: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trojan_Room_coffee_pot" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trojan_Room_coffee_pot</a><p>NSFW, Jennicam: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Ringley" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Ringley</a><p>Given the clever nature of the HN community and the desire for VC money to make more money, there would have been a lashup in 3-6 months and a product in less than a year to scratch the itch. Y Combinator, of course, would have funded it.