Ángela Ruiz Robles was a Spanish teacher, writer, and inventor who, well ahead of her time, created the mechanical precursor to the electronic book. In 1949, Ruiz was awarded a Spanish patent for the “Mechanical Encyclopedia.” Its purpose was to bring knowledge closer to students in a more interactive way. The book was a mechanical and electrical device, with buttons, coils, lights, and scrollable pages that would allow students to carry less. It included automatic alphabet books in all languages.