Believe it or not, tablet computers did not hit the market as glossy, razor-thin, and sleek gadgets they are today. Neither did they emerge abruptly in 2010 as iPads. There is a rich history behind them that dates back to almost five decades ago. Stay tuned as we briefly detail the history of these small PCs and the technological advancements that made them what they are today.
1972—The One Million Pixels
In 1972, Alan Kay, an American Computer scientist, came up with the concept of a tablet (named Dynabook), which he detailed in his writings that he later published. Kay envisioned a personal computing device for children that works pretty much like a PC.
The Dynabook consisted of a stylus pen and featured a thin body with a display that boasted at least a million pixels. Various computer engineers suggested parts of hardware that would work to make the idea a success. However, it was still not yet time—since even laptops had not been invented.
1989—The Brick Age
The first tablet computer debuted the market in 1989 under the name of GRidPad, a name coined from the Grid System. However, before that, there were Graphic Tablets that connected to computer workstations. These Graphic Tablets enabled the creation of different user interfaces such as animation, drawing, and graphics. They worked like today’s mouse.
GRidPad was nothing near what Dynabook detailed. They were bulky, weighing around five pounds, and the screens were far from the million-pixel benchmark Kay had set. Neither would the devices display in grayscale.
1991—The PDAs
In the early 90s, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) hit the market with a thud. Unlike the GRidPad, these computing devices had sufficient processing speed, fair graphics, and could sustain a generous amount of portfolio of applications. Companies such as Nokia, Handspring, Apple, and Palm develop an interest in PDAs, naming it a pen computing technology.
Unlike GRidPads that ran on MS-DOS, pen computing devices used PenPoint OS on IBM and other operating systems such as Apple Newton Messenger.
1994—The First True Tablet
The late 90s saw the end of the novel idea of Kay’s Image of a tablet. In 1994, Fujitsu launched the Stylistic 500-tablet that ran on an Intel processor. This tablet came with Windows 95, which also featured on its improved version, the Stylistic 1000.
However, in 2002, everything changed when Microsoft under Bill Gates introduced the Windows XP Tablet. This device ran on Comdex Technology and was to be the eye-opener into the future. Sadly, Windows XP Tablet couldn’t live up to its hype as Microsoft couldn’t integrate the keyboard-based windows OS into a 100% touchscreen device yet.
2010—The Real Deal
It was not until 2010 when Steve Job’s company Apple, introduced the iPad—a tablet computer that offered everything users wanted to see in Kay’s Dynabook. This new device ran on iOS, an operating system that allowed for the integration of easy-to-customize features, an intuitive touch screen, and the use of gestures.
Many other companies followed Apple’s footsteps, releasing re-imagined designs of the iPad, leading to saturation in the market. Later, Microsoft made up for their earlier missteps and created the touch-friendlier Windows Tablets that were convertible and worked as light laptops.
Currently
Since 2010, there haven’t been many more crucial advancements in tablet computing technology. As at early 2021, Apple, Microsoft, and Google are so far the major players in the industry. Today, you’ll find sleek devices such as the Nexus, Galaxy Tab, iPad Air, and Amazon Fire. These devices offer hundreds of millions of pixels, run a wide range of widgets, and hardly use a stylus as Kay’s envisioned. Perhaps you could say we have surpassed what Kay envisioned. Time will reveal what other advancements we can get in tablet technology in the future.
FAQs
The first tablet computer debuted the market in 1989 under the name of GRidPad, a name coined from the Grid System. However, before that, there were Graphic Tablets that connected to computer workstations. These Graphic Tablets enabled the creation of different user interfaces such as animation, drawing, and graphics.
What is a short description of a tablet? ›
A tablet computer, commonly shortened to tablet, is a mobile device, typically with a mobile operating system and touchscreen display processing circuitry, and a rechargeable battery in a single, thin and flat package.
What were the first tablets used for? ›
The first clay tablets were made by the ancient Sumerians in Mesopotamia, who wrote in cuneiform script on clay. The Sumerians were the first to use writing and to use cuneiform script.
Did you know facts about tablets? ›
Key Takeaways:
- 01Tablets are Versatile Devices.
- 02Tablets Come in Various Sizes.
- 03Tablets Offer Seamless Portability.
- 04Tablets Provide Touchscreen Interface.
- 05Tablets Support a Wide Range of Apps.
- 06Tablets Facilitate E-Reading.
- 07Tablets Enhance Multimedia Consumption.
- 08Tablets Support Productivity Tools.
You can also use the noun tablet to mean "writing pad" or "small computer with a touch screen." The earliest meaning of the word is "surface for inscription," the writing pads of the ancient world, which were made of stone, clay, or wax. The Latin root of tablet is tabula, "board, writing table, or list."
What was the main point of a tablet? ›
Tablets are designed to be lightweight and easy to carry, providing a convenient way to consume media and perform basic computing tasks on the go.
What is the main function of a tablet? ›
A tablet is a portable electronic device that typically features a touch-sensitive screen and is used for various tasks, such as web browsing, watching videos, reading e-books, playing games, and running applications. It falls between a smartphone and a laptop in terms of size and functionality.
What is the brief definition of tablets? ›
(Pharmaceutical: Dosage forms) A tablet is a small solid mass of medicine, containing an active drug and excipients. People sometimes crush tablets back into powder to make them easier to swallow. Machines are used to compress the powder and shape it into small, solid tablets.
When were pills invented? ›
History. Pills are thought to date back to around 1500 BC. Earlier medical recipes, such as those from 4000 BC, were for liquid preparations rather than solids. The first references to pills were found on papyruses in ancient Egypt and contained bread dough, honey, or grease.
What is the oldest tablet ever found? ›
The oldest tablets date from the reign of Gudea of Lagash (2144-2124 B.C.). Other tablets appear to belong to the Ur III period, late 3rd millennium to early 2nd millennium B.C., including some tablets inscribed with dates ranging from 2063 to 2031 B.C.
According to the biblical narrative, the first set of tablets, inscribed by the finger of God, (Exodus 31:18) were smashed by Moses when he was enraged by the sight of the Children of Israel worshiping a golden calf (Exodus 32:19) and the second were later chiseled out by Moses and rewritten by God (Exodus 34:1).
When was the first tablet written? ›
The first tablets using syllabic elements date to the Early Dynastic I–II periods c. 2800 BC, and they are agreed to be clearly in Sumerian. This is the time when some pictographic element started to be used for their phonetic value, permitting the recording of abstract ideas or personal names.
What is tablet history? ›
In 1989, GRiD Systems released the GRiDPad 1900, the first commercially successful tablet computer. It weighed 4.5 pounds and had a tethered pen resistive screen like the Write-top. The handwriting recognition was created by Jeff Hawkins who led the GRidPad development and later created the PalmPilot.
What is so great about a tablet? ›
They're better for media consumption than phones since they have bigger screens, and you can pair a tablet with a wireless keyboard to approximate a lot of the functionality of a laptop if you're trying to get work done on the fly. Tablets are also less portable than phones but more so than most laptops.
Who uses tablets the most? ›
In 2023, people aged between 25 years to 44 years used tablets the most with a 45.8% share.
What was the purpose of the tablet? ›
Since tablets are larger than smartphones, they are more suitable for applications that require higher viewability, including applications involving graphics like games or photo editing. Depending on the application, users can choose 5-inch, 7-inch, 9-inch and 10-inch tablet screen sizes.
Who invented the tab first? ›
The invention of first tablet is credited to three persons;Alan Kay, Steve Jobs and Bill Moggridge.
What is the history of pills? ›
The first references to pills were found on papyruses in ancient Egypt and contained bread dough, honey, or grease. Medicinal ingredients, such as plant powders or spices, were mixed in and formed by hand to make little balls, or pills.
How old is the oldest tablet? ›
The Sumerian civilization rose in sixth millennium BC and lasted (under various names) till 1,280 BC. The oldest tablets discovered so far are dated to 3,500 BC.
