18 Products You Didn’t Realize Were Invented Decades Ago
Discover the surprising history of futuristic inventions, where some of today’s most revolutionary technologies were actually made decades ago, proving that innovation often begins long before it hits the mainstream!
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
From electric vehicles to virtual reality, much of today’s cutting-edge technology was decades in development, tucked away in plain sight. Although modern incarnations of these innovations seem like the height of technology, their origins stem from unexpected initial developments that preceded their time. This trip through lost innovations explores how the foundations of the future were laid decades before they germinated into the technology we now depend on.
1. Virtual Reality (1960s)
Image from VirtualSpeech
Morton Heilig developed the first actual virtual reality headset, the Sensorama and Telesphere Mask, in the early 1960s. It integrated stereoscopic 3D images, audio, and even scents to engage users in alternative experiences. Although it didn’t become commercially successful, it set the stage for the VR boom we experience today.
2. 3D Printing (1980s)
Image from Sculpteo
Inventor Chuck Hull invented stereolithography in 1984, the first 3D printing method. It employed UV lasers to cure layers of resin into 3D objects. Decades later, this technology now drives everything from rapid prototyping to 3D-printed houses.
3. Touchscreen Technology (1965)
Image from Malvern Radar and Technology History
E.A. Johnson invented the first touchscreen at the Royal Radar Establishment in the UK in 1965. It was used for air traffic control systems and wasn’t multitouch, but it was effective. The swipes and taps we’re used to today began in a military lab.
4. Smartwatches (1970s)
Image from TechSpot
The Hamilton Pulsar Time Computer Calculator Watch was introduced in 1975 and allowed people to perform calculations on their wrists. It was big, gold-plated, and priced at $4,000—a complete status symbol. Although smartwatches are thinner and more technologically advanced today, the concept is over 40 years old.
5. Wireless Earbuds (1999)
Image from Sony
The original Bluetooth audio players appeared in the late 1990s, followed shortly afterward by wireless headphones. Early prototypes were bulky and cheap, but they worked. Apple’s AirPods did not create the category—they only made it desirable.
6. Electric Cars (1880s)
Image from Rare Historical Photos
Before gasoline-powered engines dominated, electric cars had traveled along America’s highways as far back as the late 1800s. It turned out that in the 1900s, electric automobiles were temporarily selling more in the United States than their gas counterparts. Battery limitations prevented continued innovation until today’s lithium-ion cells resurrected the fad.
7. Video Calling (1964)
Image from The New York Times
AT&T’s Picturephone debuted at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, providing a rudimentary video calling experience. It cost a lot and had users visit special booths. Although it failed, it foreshadowed today’s FaceTime and Zoom culture.
8. Tablet Computers (1989)
Image from PhoneArena
The GRiDPad, launched in 1989, was a huge, touchscreen tablet using MS-DOS. It was designed for business users and weighed more than five pounds. It even had Apple’s initial Newton MessagePad, years before the iPad dominated.
9. Artificial Intelligence (1950s)
Image from Matthew Renze
The term “artificial intelligence” was coined at a 1956 Dartmouth conference. Early programs could play chess or solve algebra, amazing scientists at the time. What we now call “AI” has been evolving for over 70 years.
10. Drone Technology (1917)
Image from The Guardian
The United States military built the first unmanned aircraft during World War I, known as the Kettering Bug. It was basically a flying bomb controlled by preset controls. Current drones are more accurate, but their origins trace back to wartime creativity.
11. Credit Cards (1950)
Image from Visa
The Diners Club Card, introduced in 1950, was a cardboard card that allowed customers to pay at several restaurants without cash. It began with only 27 member restaurants. The swipe-and-tap economy of today began with dinner and a cardboard guarantee.
12. Contact Lenses (1887)
Image from Lenstore
German glassblower F.A. Muller created the first wearable contact lens in 1887. It was a solid piece of glass covering the entire eye. Comfort has come a long way, but the idea isn’t new at all.
13. High-Definition Television (1936)
Image from The Box Plymouth
The BBC started HD broadcasting in 1936, and they established HD as having 405 lines of resolution—enormous for the time. The Olympics that year were shown in this high-tech medium. It wasn’t the HD we have today, but it was state-of-the-art at the time.
14. Solar Panels (1954)
Image from Bloomberg.com
Bell Labs invented the first silicon solar cell in 1954, the precursor to today’s solar panels. Although it converted only 6% of sunlight into electricity, it started a clean energy movement that’s picking up pace today.
15. Jetpacks (1961)
Image from LIFE
The Bell Rocket Belt first appeared in 1961, enabling a man to soar up to 30 feet for around 20 seconds. It was loud, difficult to handle, and wildly expensive, but it’s still one of the most awesome instances of sci-fi made real—temporarily.
16. Microwave Ovens (1945)
Image from Fabriano Philippines
Engineer Percy Spencer invented microwave cooking by accident after the radar equipment he was working near melted a candy bar in his pocket. In 1947, the first commercial microwave oven was created—it stood 6 feet tall and cost $5,000. That kitchen gadget began as military technology.
17. Digital Music (1970s)
Image from Happy Mag
The earliest digital recordings were accomplished in the early 1970s, before CDs became available. Denon of Japan marketed digital jazz albums in 1972. MP3s and streaming wouldn’t arrive until the ’90s, but digital audio was revolutionizing music secretly.
18. GPS (1978)
Image from Garmin Philippines
The United States Department of Defense deployed the first GPS satellite in 1978 as part of the NAVSTAR system. It was initially designed for military navigation. Civilian use didn’t become available until the ’90s, but the network had been in orbit for years.
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