Decades

Our relationship to technology has changed a lot over time.

Storytelling doesn't have to follow a linear timeline. But here's a walk through the history of the mobile phone in chronological order.

Photo: NBC/NBCUniversal via Getty Images Illustration: TTWW

Explore

What was the first phone you loved and why?

Tell Your Story

Explore Collections

Culture & Behaviors

From emojis to memes, we connect and make meaning with tech.

Bodies & Minds

Pocket computers are intimate tech.

Movements & Resistance

Tech is both a tool and a target for collective action.

Risk & Safety

Tech can simultaneously expose and protect our vulnerabilities.

Economy & Labor

Tech disrupts economies and changes the nature of work.

Connection & Access

Connectivity is never a given.

Design & Use

The design of tech shapes and influences our use, and vice versa.

Materials & Waste

Human transformation of metals and sand has environmental impacts.

People's Stories

Explore the living artifact of your stories and experiences.

Resources

Take action and imagine better tech futures.

Tell Your Story

Participate here

AB
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Andrew Gurza
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Antonio
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B Kelley
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Becky Russell
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Ben
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Bettina Dalton
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Caitlin Begg
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Carrie
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Catherine Ingram
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Chelsey Petty-Dale
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Cody Brooks
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Willow Idlewild
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Confidence Osein
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Eli Pariser
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Dana
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Domsk
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Eli Boahen
*
Emily Best
*
Erica
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Erik Matthies
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Grace
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Ina
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Jasmine Sun
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Jeffrey Abramson
*
Jim Remsik
*
Coraline Ada Ehmke
*
Kaitlin
*
Kane
*
Kris Boustedt
*
Kristen
*
Laura Heery
*
Laura Kalbag
*
Ligaya
*
Lorna Craig
*
Maira Elahi
*
Meghan
*
Nick
*
Owen
*
Pablo
*
Patrick McDermott
*
Reuben Johnson
*
Rosita
*
Sam
*
Sara M. Watson
*
Sarp
*
SaVance Ford
*
Natalya Dell
*
Sherri Johnson
*
Spencer
*
Theresa Richardson
*
Whitney
*
Xiaowei Wang
*
AB
*
Andrew Gurza
*
Antonio
*
B Kelley
*
Becky Russell
*
Ben
*
Bettina Dalton
*
Caitlin Begg
*
Carrie
*
Catherine Ingram
*
Chelsey Petty-Dale
*
Cody Brooks
*
Willow Idlewild
*
Confidence Osein
*
Eli Pariser
*
Dana
*
Domsk
*
Eli Boahen
*
Emily Best
*
Erica
*
Erik Matthies
*
Grace
*
Ina
*
Jasmine Sun
*
Jeffrey Abramson
*
Jim Remsik
*
Coraline Ada Ehmke
*
Kaitlin
*
Kane
*
Kris Boustedt
*
Kristen
*
Laura Heery
*
Laura Kalbag
*
Ligaya
*
Lorna Craig
*
Maira Elahi
*
Meghan
*
Nick
*
Owen
*
Pablo
*
Patrick McDermott
*
Reuben Johnson
*
Rosita
*
Sam
*
Sara M. Watson
*
Sarp
*
SaVance Ford
*
Natalya Dell
*
Sherri Johnson
*
Spencer
*
Theresa Richardson
*
Whitney
*
Xiaowei Wang
*
AB
*
Andrew Gurza
*
Antonio
*
B Kelley
*
Becky Russell
*
Ben
*
Bettina Dalton
*
Caitlin Begg
*
Carrie
*
Catherine Ingram
*
Chelsey Petty-Dale
*
Cody Brooks
*
Willow Idlewild
*
Confidence Osein
*
Eli Pariser
*
Dana
*
Domsk
*
Eli Boahen
*
Emily Best
*
Erica
*
Erik Matthies
*
Grace
*
Ina
*
Jasmine Sun
*
Jeffrey Abramson
*
Jim Remsik
*
Coraline Ada Ehmke
*
Kaitlin
*
Kane
*
Kris Boustedt
*
Kristen
*
Laura Heery
*
Laura Kalbag
*
Ligaya
*
Lorna Craig
*
Maira Elahi
*
Meghan
*
Nick
*
Owen
*
Pablo
*
Patrick McDermott
*
Reuben Johnson
*
Rosita
*
Sam
*
Sara M. Watson
*
Sarp
*
SaVance Ford
*
Natalya Dell
*
Sherri Johnson
*
Spencer
*
Theresa Richardson
*
Whitney
*
Xiaowei Wang
*
AB
*
Andrew Gurza
*
Antonio
*
B Kelley
*
Becky Russell
*
Ben
*
Bettina Dalton
*
Caitlin Begg
*
Carrie
*
Catherine Ingram
*
Chelsey Petty-Dale
*
Cody Brooks
*
Willow Idlewild
*
Confidence Osein
*
Eli Pariser
*
Dana
*
Domsk
*
Eli Boahen
*
Emily Best
*
Erica
*
Erik Matthies
*
Grace
*
Ina
*
Jasmine Sun
*
Jeffrey Abramson
*
Jim Remsik
*
Coraline Ada Ehmke
*
Kaitlin
*
Kane
*
Kris Boustedt
*
Kristen
*
Laura Heery
*
Laura Kalbag
*
Ligaya
*
Lorna Craig
*
Maira Elahi
*
Meghan
*
Nick
*
Owen
*
Pablo
*
Patrick McDermott
*
Reuben Johnson
*
Rosita
*
Sam
*
Sara M. Watson
*
Sarp
*
SaVance Ford
*
Natalya Dell
*
Sherri Johnson
*
Spencer
*
Theresa Richardson
*
Whitney
*
Xiaowei Wang
*