The Web’s been buzzing since Gizmodo leaked Microsoft’s Courier tablet PC, and rightly so—it looks amazing. However, what we’ve seen of Courier is a mere concept rendering. Apple, of course, has been playing that game too. For 22 years.

Check out this utterly fabulous video made by Apple in 1987 to demonstrate what the company imagined for the future of touchscreen computing—the Knowledge Navigator. It was dug out by Arik Hesseldahl over at Businessweek.

Fold-out book format? Check. Integrated camera? Check. Touchscreen? Check. Wireless connection? Check. Journal functionality? Check. These are all Courier-like features—but Apple wows with the voice recognition, artificial intelligence and “personality” aspects of its idea. The Knowledge Navigator is a fully interactive PDA—in smartness way beyond what Microsoft’s envisaging, and capable of many of the tasks a real personal assistant offers.

(via Screw Microsoft’s Courier: Apple Had Better Ideas 22 Years Ago | Technomix | Fast Company)