Even if you aren’t computer savvy, you have probably used an online booking system. Most of them are easy to use, and let you quickly and efficiently book flights, cruises, hotel rooms, sporting events and tables at a restaurant. The system checks for availability, and results can be displayed by price or a variety of other filters. And the entire process can be carried out online, with tickets or a receipt printed out or sent to your phone. Most of us take it for granted that we can book a concert or rental car this way, but of course it hasn’t always been the case. The first online booking tool of any kind was developed in the 1950s in Japan to book train seats; during the 1960s, various airlines developed different reservations and ticketing systems and online booking gradually became possible for many other applications.
