Madrid
Completed

Discover 'La Enciclopedia Mecánica de Doña Angelita': Pioneering Invention and E-book Precursor

Uncover the visionary work of Ángela Ruiz Robles and her quest to revolutionize 20th-century education.

Delve into 'La Enciclopedia Mecánica de Doña Angelita,' an exhibition honoring the trailblazing Galician teacher and inventor Ángela Ruiz Robles. This display highlights her remarkable 'Mechanical Encyclopedia,' a device widely recognized as a pivotal precursor to the modern e-book. Learn how Doña Angelita's innovative concepts aimed to transform educational methods from the 1920s to the 1960s.

About La Enciclopedia Mecánica de Doña Angelita at Espacio Fundación Telefónica in Madrid

Read curatorial context and practical visitor information for La Enciclopedia Mecánica de Doña Angelita at Espacio Fundación Telefónica in Madrid

Exhibition summary

This exhibition pays tribute to Ángela Ruiz Robles, known as Doña Angelita, a pioneering teacher and inventor from Galicia. It showcases her innovative 'Mechanical Encyclopedia,' considered a precursor to the e-book, which aimed to revolutionize early 20th-century educational methods.

Curatorial context

The exhibition 'La Enciclopedia Mecánica de Doña Angelita' celebrates the life and work of Ángela Ruiz Robles (Doña Angelita), a visionary teacher and inventor active from the 1920s to the 1960s in Galicia. Despite the societal limitations placed on women at the time, she dedicated herself to improving education through didactic publications and original technological inventions. Her most significant creation, the 'Mechanical Encyclopedia,' is recognized as a precursor to the e-book, designed to make learning more active, individualized, and logical by moving away from traditional memory-based pedagogy. The exhibition delves into Doña Angelita's forward-thinking approach, highlighting her numerous writings and inventions, including a simplified shorthand system and the 'Grammatical Atlas.' It specifically details her 'Mechanical Encyclopedia' patents from 1949 and 1962, which proposed innovative devices for reading books and completing exercises. The displayed prototype, constructed with metal, exemplifies her vision of a portable, interactive educational tool that could incorporate text, light, and even sound, a concept remarkably ahead of its time. The exhibition emphasizes her persistent dedication to transforming education and her role as a pioneer whose ideas foreshadowed modern digital reading formats.

Admission and ticket notes

The exhibition is open from 12:00 to 20:00. Specific ticketing information is not detailed on this page, but it is located at Espacio Fundación Telefónica, C/ Fuencarral, 3, Madrid.

La Enciclopedia Mecánica de Doña Angelita key exhibition facts

Review exhibition status, schedule, venue context, and attribution details for La Enciclopedia Mecánica de Doña Angelita at Espacio Fundación Telefónica in Madrid

Venue
Espacio Fundación Telefónica
Current status
Completed
Exhibition schedule
Feb 20, 2015 – Jun 28, 2015
Artist line / attribution
Featuring the work and concepts of Ángela Ruiz Robles (Doña Angelita).
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