The iPad Was Invented 38 Years Ago

Kids using the imaginary Dynabook

From Kurt Bakke at ConceivablyTech.com:

Giving Apple credit for reshaping the way we use computers, well at least attempting it, would be a bit too much. Apple simply built a device that was imagined and described in detail in a research paper 38 years ago. Reading that paper is a spooky experience – it is fascinating how closely the author describes what the iPad is today. He even got the price right – almost four decades ago.

I previously attempted to take shot at the iPad’s ancestors. I believe this is a rather difficult task if we look at recent history and really depends on your viewpoint and in this case, you will read what I think. For some reason, you know it is one of those occasions you just get stuck reading late in the day, I stumbled across a fascinating research paper that gets more and more stunning as you read along. It is called “A personal computer for children of all ages” and was published by Alan Kay of the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) back in 1972.

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