A humorous history of the Whiteboard

Ever since we colonised the very first cave, humans have had a need to communicate through drawing. From informing other people about hidden dangers to boasting about successful hunts and from illustrating stories to documenting historic events, we’ve always turned to walls, boards and placards to convey important information. Fast forward a few thousand years and instead of using cave walls, we’ve moved on to the Whiteboard. Based on the same principles, Whiteboards allow us to communicate, illustrate and inform. So just how has the Whiteboard evolved over the years and what does the future hold for this practical piece of equipment? Cave drawings According to archaeologists, the earliest ever recording of cave drawings was on the walls of a cave in Indonesia 40,000 years ago. It’s unclear exactly what the drawings depicted, perhaps a to-do list of find meat, kill meat, eat meat. Other drawings have been found in caves around the world, proving that we’ve always had a need to see our ideas displayed in the space around us. Ancient Sumeria The earliest precursor to the modern blackboard can be found in ancient Sumeria. Located in Mesopotamia around 6000 years ago, the Sumerians were incredibly resourceful. Students and scribes used to write on clay tablets. They would simply wipe the tablet to erase their work, creating the very first reusable board. The Middle Ages In the Middle Ages, and up until the industrial revolution, students would jot down their lessons on slates. Using chalk to write with, these slates could be washed and reused as many times as necessary. But having handled clay all day imagine the state of the pupils uniforms at the end of everyday! The 1960s The 1960s saw the invention of the green board, a steel plate coated in porcelain based enamel paint. Easier to clean and more affordable than slate, this style of board quickly became the norm throughout the world. The Whiteboard Along with other classroom classics such as the handheld calculator and the computer mouse, the 1960s saw the Whiteboard offer an even more efficient alternative to slate. Versatile, lightweight and easy to use, and like flared trousers, big hair and leg warmers, Whiteboards quickly began to appear in schools, offices and homes in the 70s and 80s. Today, just like leg warmers, you’re unlikely to find a blackboard in any classroom in the developed world, with Whiteboards having put blackboards, green boards and any-other-coloured boards out of a job for good. The future of Whiteboards With interactive Whiteboards becoming more common across the UK, the future of this handy piece of equipment looks bright. As more time and money is invested in developing Whiteboards, they are set to become even more popular and practical, creating a fantastic tool for schools, offices, hospitals and homes to enjoy.