Patented in Tennessee in 1885, the Anderson Shorthand Typewriter is recognized as a precursor to modern stenographic machines. It was the first model to allow multiple keys to be pressed simultaneously, enabling users to type entire words (using English characters) at once. The keyboard featured just 14 keys, and typists used a phonetic system known as the “chording method.” Although its inventor, G. K. Anderson, continued to refine the design, the typewriter never achieved commercial success. Nonetheless, it remains an important milestone in the development of stenographic technology.