In the United States, Ángela Ruiz Robles invented the 'Mechanical Encyclopedia,' a device that could hold text on reels and was intended to be a portable, interactive textbook. It was a precursor to the modern e-reader, but it never caught on, as it was expensive and complicated to produce. Robles was a visionary who was far ahead of her time, and her invention is now recognized as a milestone in the history of electronic publishing.

The Mechanical Encyclopedia is a symbol of the dream of portable knowledge and the desire to make information accessible to everyone. It has been featured in poetry and literature as an example of the visionary inventor, a theme that has been explored by poets who are interested in the future of reading. The device's failure to gain acceptance serves as a reminder that even the most innovative ideas can be hampered by practical limitations, a lesson that resonates with poets who write about the nature of technology.