The Evolution of the Drawing Tablet

Evolution of Graphics Tablets

By Rose Harbert

GOAL!

The graphics tablet has come a long way since the Telautograph in 1888. It has gone from a simple one-way writing transmitting machine to a $2500 digital art workstation. As the years passed and technology became more sophisticated, so did graphics tablets. The main users of graphics tablets are artists, whether professional or amateur.

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The Apple Graphics Tablet

Invented: 1979, designed by Summagraphics and sold by Apple

It was originally an accessory for the Apple II computer that predated Apple's mouse by more than six years. It was similiar to BitPad, only Apple-software oriented. In the same year, a second Apple graphics tablet was produced, this time in colour...

The BitPad

Invented: 1975 by Summagraphics Corps

They were the digitising tablets that really popularised graphics tablets for commercial use. It was a bit smaller and more slimmer, closer to modern graphics and drawing tablets.

The RAND Tablet

Invented: September 1963 by RAND

It is considered the first such graphic device that is digital, is relatively cheap, and has great linearity. The surface area was about 10"x10", on a grid of 100 lines by 100 to accurately record anything being written with a pen or stylus. It was similar to the Stylator, but ultimately took over popularity.

The Stylator

Invented: 1957 by Tom L. Dimond

This new tablet input directly to a computer instead of a receiving device, resembling more modern tablets. It used handwriting recognition as well.

Telautograph: The First Graphics Tablet

Invented: 1888, by Elisha Gray

The Telautograph enabled written communication over long distances by the use of recorded electrical impulses that transmitted to the receiving telautograph. There was a pen attached to the receiving device that would copy the writing. It became popular for sending signatures over long distances and was primarily used by banks and doctors.

Wacom Cintiq 22HD

Invented: September 2013 by Wacom

This tablet is the latest, highest-end tablet from what has become the standard company to buy tablets from. It costs a whopping $2500, but reviews call it worth every penny. Instead of being a peripheral to a PC, it's its own device.

The Evolution of the Graphics Tablet

The Wacom Bamboo Drawing Tablet

Prezi by Rose Harbert

Invented: September 2011 by Wacom

Wacom technology became the newest standard for graphics tablet technology. It was one of the first tablet models with a wireless accompanying stylus.

The Microsoft Tablet PC

Invented: 2000 by Bill Gates

It was a big leap in tablet technology. It could be used for more than just computer input, and was its own device and not just a peripheral. Unfortunately, Gates was out of his year when he invented the "Tablet PC", and it wasn't popular until years later.

The KoalaPad

Invented: 1984 by Dr. David Thornburg for Koala Industries.

It is considered by some to be the first 'true' graphics tablet, since it was used on many platforms with the two extra programmable buttons at the top with a pressure-sensitive stylus.

The Apple Utopia Graphics System

Invented: 1979 by musician Tod Rundgren

It was licensed to Apple as the first colour graphics tablet software for PCs. It closely resembled the first Apple graphics tablet. It was about thirty inches square in area and used a gridline layout. It also had several new buttons at the top for specific functions that were a large improvement in graphics tablets.