This timeline presents significant events and developments in the innovation and management of information and documents from cave paintings (ca 30,000 BC) to the present. To keep recent electronic developments from dominating the listing, only the most significant digital innovations are included.
Use: Drag band to move timeline. Click magnifying glasses to lengthen or shorten display duration. Click an entry to see details.
Here is the key to the icons used in the timeline:
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Book Forms and Bookmaking |
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Calendars |
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Copyrights and Legal |
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Infographics and Statististics |
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Libraries |
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Maps |
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Math and Symbology |
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Mechanization |
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Networks |
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New Formats or Document Forms |
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Organizing Information |
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Pre-writing |
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Paper and Papermaking |
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Printing |
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Science and Technology |
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Scripts and Alphabets |
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Standardization and Typography |
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Theory |
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Timelines |
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Writing |
Why this timeline was created, caveats about "single" dates being used for often complicated and rapidly moving innovations, and other background information is provided in the announcement. The basis of this timeline was switched in 2016.