Early Concepts & Innovations:
* 1971: Michael Hart created the first "ebook" called Project Gutenberg, using a computer to digitize public domain texts. This was a major step towards digital books.
* 1980s: Sony developed the Data Discman, a portable device for reading digital files, including text.
* 1990s: Adam Bom developed the "Rocket eBook" in 1998, considered the first commercially successful dedicated e-reader device.
* 1998: Amazon launched its Kindle store, revolutionizing online book sales.
Modern Ebooks and E-Readers:
* 2007: Amazon released the first generation of the Kindle device, which became a massive success and popularized e-readers.
* 2007: Apple introduced the iPhone, which opened up the possibility of reading ebooks on smartphones.
Overall, the invention of the ebook was a collaborative effort, with multiple individuals and companies contributing to its development and evolution. No single person can be credited with its invention.