So, it turns out I am just slightly older than the ubiquitous emoticon. Sorry NY Times requires you to register to see their articles. 🙁
The first commonly acknowledged use of the contemporary emoticon was in 1982. Scott Fahlman, a research professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, was linked to an electronic university bulletin board where computer enthusiasts posted opinions on matters as divisive as abortion and mundane as campus parking.