First Xerox photocopier built (October 22), October 22, 1938. On this date, Chester Carlson, an American physicist and inventor, succeeded in building the first practical photocopying machine. Known as the "Xerox" machine, it marked a turning point in office technology by enabling dry copying of documents. Carlson constructed the prototype in a small laboratory in New York, assisted by Otto Kornei. The original photocopier used the process of electrophotography, and the first image ever copied was the phrase "10-22-38 Astoria," recording the date and location of the experiment. This innovation quickly attracted the attention of major companies, and after years of development, the Haloid Company (later Xerox) began mass production of photocopiers. The introduction of the photocopier revolutionized the way documents were duplicated, greatly increasing the speed and efficiency of administrative and educational work. The invention gradually replaced traditional methods such as carbon paper and lithographic printing, making fast and affordable document copying accessible to millions worldwide. This observance was designated in the Gregorian calendar to recognize the historical significance and widespread impact of the invention on daily life and technological progress.
