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

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Snake

GIF animation of a Nokia phone displaying the Snake gameplay.

Programmed in 1997 by Taneli Armanto of Nokia and introduced as a pre-loaded game on the Nokia 6110. The player must keep the snake from colliding with both other obstacles...

First SMS sent

Image of the first SMS both in code and on an historic screen.

The first SMS text message in history is sent: Neil Papworth, a 22-year-old engineer, uses a personal computer to send the text message “Merry Christmas” via the Vodafone...

“Unlimited minutes after 9pm. I charged people to use my phone for clout.”

AB

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

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  • Antonio
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  • B Kelley
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  • 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
  • *