# Back in Time (iOS software)
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{{short description|World history app for iPad}}
{{Infobox software
| title = Back in Time
| name =
| logo = App_Store_icon_for_Back_in_Time.png
| developer = [Landka](/source/Landka)
| platform = iOS
| released = '''iPad'''
September 22, 2011
'''iPhone'''
December, 2011
| language = English, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Spanish
| genre = Education Book App
}}
'''Back in Time''' is an education book app for [iOS](/source/iOS) about the history of the universe, earth, life and mankind that uses a time analogy to explain different timescales.[{{Cite web|url=https://www.spacetelescope.org/announcements/ann1202/|title=Educational App with ESA/Hubble Content in New York Times Top 10 Best iPad Apps|last=Usher|first=Oli|website=Hubble Space Telescope {{!}} ESA|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-10-17}}] The app was featured worldwide in the [App Store](/source/App_Store_(iOS)) and rapidly became a success, reaching the top sales of iPad book apps in 38 countries.[{{Cite news|url=https://www.publico.pt/2012/01/24/p3/noticia/esta-app-portuguesa-foi-a-mais-vendida-em-38-paises-1812886|title=Portuguese app reaches top sales in 38 countries|last=Coentrão|first=Abel|date=2012-01-24|work=PÚBLICO|language=pt}}][{{Cite news|url=https://expresso.sapo.pt/sociedade/iappi-portuguesa-no-top-de-vendas-dos-eua-video=f698824#gs.yx_E6sU|title=Portuguese app in the US top sales|date=2012-10-01|work=Jornal Expresso|language=pt-PT}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}] ''Back in Time'' was distinguished by ''[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)'' and selected for the top 10 apps of the year.[{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/05/technology/personaltech/amid-an-avalanche-of-ipad-apps-the-best-of-2011-app-smart.html?_r=0|title=iPad Apps - the Best of 2011 - App Smart|date=2012-01-05|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-10-17|language=en}}][{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldsummitawards.org/winner/back-in-time/|title=Back in Time {{!}} WSA 2012 Winners|website=World Summit Awards|language=en|access-date=2018-10-17}}]
== Features ==
''Back in Time'' is a cross between a history textbook and a multimedia encyclopedia. The app presents 50 key events since the beginning of the universe until the present day covering different timescales such as the [chronology of the universe](/source/chronology_of_the_universe), the [geological history of earth](/source/Geological_history_of_Earth), the [evolutionary history of life](/source/evolutionary_history_of_life) and [human history](/source/human_history).[{{Cite news|url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/back-in-time|title=Back in Time - App Review|last=Panarelli|first=Liz|work=Common Sense Media|access-date=2018-10-22|language=en}}][{{Cite news|url=https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2011/10/back-in-time-for-ipad-see-the-history-of-the-universe-in-24-hours/|title=Back In Time For iPad: See The History Of The Universe In 24 Hours|last=Chan|first=Casey|date=2011-10-06|work=Gizmodo|access-date=2018-10-18|language=en}}] In order to better understand these timescales, the app proposes a time analogy where the entire [age of the universe](/source/age_of_the_universe) (13.7 billion years) is scaled into a 24-hour clock. Navigation is possible by browsing several timelines or by rewinding the pointers of a clock to go back in time.[{{Cite web |date=2025-04-09 |title=Back in Time |url=https://apps.apple.com/us/app/back-in-time/id450345693 |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=App Store |language=en-US}}]
{| class="wikitable"
|+
Key events in History presented using the 24-hour analogy (excerpt from ''Back in Time'')
!
!24-hours
analogy
!Chronology
!Event
!Description
|-
| rowspan="4" {{vert header|stp=1|Universe}}
|{{align|right|0:00}}
|{{align|right|13.7 billion years ago}}
|[Big Bang](/source/Big_Bang)
|Creation of the Universe
|-
|{{align|right|0:21}}
|{{align|right|13.5 billion years ago}}
|[First Stars](/source/Stellar_population)
|First stars were born
|-
|{{align|right|8:35}}
|{{align|right|8.8 billion years ago}}
|[Milky Way](/source/Milky_Way)
|The Milky Way takes the shape of a galactic disk
|-
|{{align|right|15:56}}
|{{align|right|4.6 billion years ago}}
|[Solar System](/source/Formation_and_evolution_of_the_Solar_System)
|Formation of the Solar System
|-
| rowspan="5" {{vert header|stp=1 |Life}}
|{{align|right|17:20}}
|{{align|right|3.8 billion years ago}}
|[Life on Earth](/source/Evolutionary_history_of_life)
|First traces of life on Earth
|-
|{{align|right|23:02}}
|{{align|right|545 million years ago}}
|[Cambrian Explosion](/source/Cambrian_explosion)
|Sudden increase in sea life diversity
|-
|{{align|right|23:10}}
|{{align|right|475 million years ago}}
|[Land Plants](/source/Evolutionary_history_of_plants)
|First records of land plants
|-
|{{align|right|23:35}}
|{{align|right|230 million years ago}}
|[Rise of the Dinosaurs](/source/Evolution_of_dinosaurs)
|Dinosaurs became the dominant terrestrial vertebrates
|-
|{{align|right|23:53}}
|{{align|right|65.5 million years ago}}
|[K-T Extinction](/source/Cretaceous%E2%80%93Paleogene_extinction_event)
|Mass extinction (massive asteroid impact)
|-
| rowspan="5" {{vert header|stp=1 |Humankind}}
|{{align|right|23:59:44}}
|{{align|right|2.5 million years ago}}
|[Cradle of Humankind](/source/Australopithecus)
|Australopithecus
|-
|{{align|right|23:59:59}}
|{{align|right|200 000 years ago}}
|[Homo Sapiens](/source/Homo_sapiens)
|Last known link in the evolution of humanity
|-
|{{align|right|-442 ms *}}
|{{align|right|70 000 years ago}}
|[Human migrations](/source/Early_human_migrations)
|Homo Sapiens migrates out of Africa
|-
|{{align|right|-76 ms *}}
|{{align|right|12 000 years ago}}
|[Cradle of Civilization](/source/Neolithic_Revolution)
|Rise of civilization
|-
|{{align|right|-32 ms *}}
|{{align|right|5 000 years ago}}
|[Writing](/source/Recorded_history)
|Beginning of recorded history
|}
* milliseconds before midnight
== Development and release ==
''Back in Time'' was developed by the Portuguese software company [Landka](/source/Landka) over a period of 10 months.[{{Cite web |date=2025-04-09 |title=Back in Time for iPhone |url=https://apps.apple.com/us/app/back-in-time-for-iphone/id483148811 |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=App Store |language=en-US}}] In June 2013, a version of the app for [Microsoft Windows](/source/Microsoft_Windows) was released as a result of a collaboration between the developers and [Intel](/source/Intel) with the purpose of showcase the capabilities of [Windows 8](/source/Windows_8).[{{Cite web|url=https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/case-study-redesigning-back-in-time-from-an-ipad-to-windows-store-app|title=Redesigning 'Back in Time' from an iPad* to Windows* Store App - Case Study|last=Totura|first=Nathan|website=Intel|language=en|access-date=2018-10-24}}]
== Reception and awards ==
Upon release, ''Back in Time'' was featured in the [App Store](/source/App_Store_(iOS)) worldwide and rapidly became a success, reaching the top sales of iPad book apps in 38 countries.[{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/06/technology/personaltech/watching-stars-fall-cellphone-in-hand.html?_r=0|title=Watching Stars Fall {{!}} App Smart|last=Tedeschi|first=Bob|date=2011-10-06|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-10-18|language=en}}][{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/appsblog/2011/sep/26/apps-rush-dawkins-jamie-oliver|title=Apps rush|last=Dredge|first=Stuart|date=2011-09-26|work=The Guardian|access-date=2018-10-18|language=en}}] ''Back in Time'' was featured by ''[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)'' for the top 10 apps of the year.[{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbcactive.com/BBCActiveIdeasandResources/10AppsforTeachingHistory.aspx|title=10 Apps for Teaching History|website=BBC {{!}} Active|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311032126/http://www.bbcactive.com/BBCActiveIdeasandResources/10AppsforTeachingHistory.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-03-11|access-date=2018-10-18}}][{{Cite news|url=https://www.americanphotomag.com/best-photo-books-2012|title=The Best Photo Books Of 2012|last=Crager|first=Jack|date=2012-12-06|work=American Photo Magazine|access-date=2018-10-18|language=en|archive-date=2017-04-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424161614/http://www.americanphotomag.com/best-photo-books-2012|url-status=dead}}][{{Cite book|title=110 Amazing Apps for Education|last=Anderson|first=Rane|publisher=Shell Education|year=2012|isbn=9781425808471|pages=106}}][{{Cite web|url=https://msp2l1160225102310.blob.core.windows.net/ms-p2-l1-160225-1023-13-assets/Apps%20for%20Education_en-US.pdf|title=See what's APPening in education|website=Microsoft}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}][{{Cite news|url=https://www.educatorstechnology.com/2017/07/12-good-history-apps-for-high-school.html|title=12 Good History Apps for High School Students|work=Educational Technology and Mobile Learning|access-date=2018-10-30}}] In 2012, Back in Time won a [World Summit Award](/source/World_Summit_Awards) ([UN](/source/United_Nations) based initiative) for Learning and Education.