On January 27, 2010, Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the iPad at the Yerba Buena Gardens Theatre in San Francisco. The first-generation iPad was a touchscreen tablet computer that combined the functionality of a smartphone with a larger screen. It was launched on April 3, 2010, and quickly became a popular device for reading, writing, and browsing the internet.

The iPad created a new platform for reading and writing, combining the portability of a book with the versatility of a computer. For poets, it became a digital notebook, library, and publishing tool all in one. The iPad's large, high-resolution screen made it ideal for reading long-form texts, and its apps allowed for the creation of multimedia and visual poetry. It also spurred a new wave of digital literary magazines and e-books, changing how poetry is consumed and distributed.