Tabulating data in rows and columns goes back to some of our earliest examples of cuneiform writing, I believe. I always assumed the grid of rows and columns wa

Tabulating data in rows and columns goes back to some of our earliest examples of cuneiform writing, I believe. I always assumed the grid of rows and columns was simply modeling the world as tabulators knew it rather than coming up with a new concept for how to present information. That particular presentation is easy for users to understand because it’s been with us forever.