Star Trek at 50 - Tablet Computers

The tablet computer and its associated operating system began with the development of pen computing. Electrical devices with data input and output on a flat information display existed as early as 1888 with the telautograph, which used a sheet of paper as display and a pen attached to electromechanical actuators. Throughout the 20th century devices with these characteristics have been imagined and created whether as blueprints, prototypes, or commercial products. 

Tablet computers appeared in a number of works of science fiction in the second half of the 20th century; all helped to promote and disseminate the concept to a wider audience. Examples include Isaac Asimov with a Calculator Pad in his novel Foundation (1951), Stanislaw Lem with the Opton in his novel Return from the Stars (1961), and Arthur C. Clarke's NewsPad was depicted in Stanley Kubrick's film 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). There were numerous similar devices depicted by Gene Roddenberry in Star Trek: The Original Series which continued into Star Trek The Next Generation with tablet computers designated as PADDs.

And here were are again, reality imitating imagination. 

This week, a look at holding the future in the palm of your hands.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "You either live life fully, face to the wind, with skinned knees, bruises and all or you turn your back to it all, wither away and die." - Captain Christopher Pike, Star Trek: The Original Series, “The Cage” (unaired pilot)

   ST50 - Tablet Computers