About

I’ll tell you a little history – how I started using the moniker “IKnowIndigo.”

The year was 1995 – which is around 30 years ago. Kathy was always interested in “the computer revolution.” She bought the first personal computer she could – first a TRS-80, and soon after, an Apple II – that was way back in 1977. It took twenty years before people could get on “the internet” and collaborate. There was an online “game” called “Worlds Away” that came out in 1995, as a offering of CompuServe. Kathy was excited to “play” the game, which was really a way for people to chat online together. This was one of the first “virtual worlds” made for online users, and Kathy was deeply involved.

Kathy spent many hours on many days, and began to develop a community. She made many friends, and the game alerted you to which friends were online. Kathy became the leader of a large “clan” of friends – almost like a priestess, although I don’t remember any specifics of what she taught. Still, people spent hours just chatting, developing relationships.

The name Kathy went by in Worlds Away was “Indigo.”

I don’t remember my avatar’s name, but I was part of the game – although I didn’t spend as much time as Kathy did. I knew many of the people in her circle, but not all – so it was really a different world with different relationships. I don’t have any screenshots of Kathy, but here’s an example of how the game looked, and how chat was displayed.

I do remember “Oracle Uni” – I also remember many “events.” In time, Kathy became a big deal. It was amazing to witness how she developed followers online, in a different way that she did “in real life” but with lasting relationships and emotions. I believe the game remained popular for four years or so, then finally “ended” in 1999.

Years later, I remembered how important the game was to Kathy, and to those who got involved with her in the game. It was in homage to Kathy and the game “Worlds Away” that I took the name “IKnowIndigo” – an obvious play on the meaning that I knew Kathy in real life, even when many only knew her “in the game.” I began using that name as an avatar name – and for the last several decades, I’ve used that name in several ways. It’s been my gmail address now for decades.