| 3200 BC | Clay Tablets | Invented by the Sumerians, these were used for cuneiform writing. |
| 2400 BC | Papyrus | A material similar to thick paper used in Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. |
| 1600 BC | Bronze, Stone | Metal was used for public inscriptions, stone was used for private ones. |
| 600 BC | Wax Tablets | These were used by the Greeks for primary education and note taking. |
| 105 AD | Paper | Invented by the Chinese, paper allowed for extensive distribution and development of literature. |
| 600 AD | Vellum, Parchment | Made from calfskin, sheepskin or goatskin, these were more durable than papyrus. |
| 868 AD | Printed Paper | The Diamond Sutra is considered the first printed book. |
| 13th Century | Paper Money | Started in China, this brought a new usage for paper. |
| 1439 AD | Gutenberg’s Press | Modern methods of printing text were created, allowing for mass production of books. |
| Late 19th Century | Typewriter | Mechanical, followed by electromechanical machines used for writing print-like characters. |
| 1938 | Ballpoint Pen | Invented by Laszlo Biro, made writing faster and more efficient. |
| Mid 20th Century | Mainframe Computers and Punch Cards | Used for large-scale automatic processing of data. |
| 1972 | Word Processors | Simplified the writing process with digital tools like spell checks and backspace. |
| 1973 | Personal Computers | Made digital writing and internet communication accessible for everyday use. |
| 1983 | Apple’s Macintosh | Introduced the first graphical user interface in computers. |
| 1985 | Microsoft Windows | Allowed for widespread use of personal computers beyond the Apple audience. |
| 1990 | World Wide Web | Revolutionized writing and communication with the invention of HTML. |
| Early 21st Century | Smartphones, Tablets | Apps for note-taking, digital art, and on-the-go writing and reading. |
| Present | Digital Media | Continues to evolve, turning traditional forms of media into digital ones. |
