Twitter users are highly using # for various services like to find, identify messages, etc. But do anybody know who invented # ?
Bell, US telephone company, invented “#” during invention of telephone. It came into usage in 1970s by Bell’s research department. Bell needed to use symbols with numbers on the telephone keypad for development of the system which can access computer data through telephone. Telephone instructions are passed using combination of numbers and symbols.
“*” and “#” symbols were included on the keyboard as that are on typewriter keyboard and easily used in instructions.
“Hash” symbol also nowadays used heavily on computers as well for various functions and instructions because of its extensive usage on telephone and typewriters before computer’s invention.
The name “Octothorpe” had been given to “#” symbol by two Bell engineers who invented it. Some dictionaries still terms # as “Octothorpe” and also # was used to describe telephonic patent in 1973. But the name “Octothorpe” never got universal reorganization.
Bell probably may have the patent right of # on at least telephone as they have invented it. But as it is internationally popular and used so they never bothered for it.
Typewriters included “#” for pound (lbs), weight measurement unit, representation widely used in USA before 70’s. The abbreviation “lbs” for “pound” was used by Italian merchants to measure weight of goods. “lb” shortened from “libra” (scales).
“#” was used for weight measurement system by crossing “lb” with 2 horizontal strokes. It was useful to weight measurement in Italian and English worth same value to note goods.
English merchants adopted the symbol for trading in the Mediterranean.
Today, “#” became so popular in web world as well as for various usages. Nowadays, It has been used by billions of people like Twitter and other popular Social Media websites.
