History of the Tablet
From our caveman days to the present, how the tablet—and we—have evolved.
By Chandra Steele August 7, 2011 11 Comments
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A nice flat surface to create on is undoubtedly one of humankind's basic desires, as the markings on caves from the Aurignacian Period some 30,000 years ago prove. Though tablets are just now gaining popularity, they've been with us in one form or another from nearly the beginning of time.
Today's tablets are glossy and virtually razor-thin, with untold depths lurking beneath their dark, impenetrable surfaces. But until just a few years ago, they were clunky computing bricks comprised of shades of gray. While they used to just tell us what to do and where we had to go, they're now committed to keeping us entertained and informed. In the past, communication with a traditional tablet required a pen, but they're now capable of understanding us with just a simple touch or swipe.
It's no wonder then that the new generation of tablets are more popular companions than their ancestors could ever hope to be. In true Darwinian fashion, their good looks and attentiveness to us has led to an explosion in their population. Tablet toters should hit 26 million this year in the United States if Forrester Research's predictions are on target, with 82.1 percent of the population getting onboard by 2015.
To get to this point in our mutual history, we and tablets have co-evolved, with our ever-changing needs pushing the capabilities and design of the slate-like devices forward through necessity. Flip through our story to watch as the tablet emerges from the primordial soup and enters the modern day.