Funny Nature & Travel Art & Stage Going Viral Science Greetings Inspirational

Edit Profile Recently Viewed Favorites

Main > Art & Stage > Design & Photography

These ’80s Inventions Were Too Weird to Last (14 Pics)

Edited By: Bhavesh B.

Add to Favorites In Favorites

Español

Font Size:

A+ A-

While recent decades have had their share of odd and failed inventions — looking at you, Google Glass and Apple Newton — the 1980s certainly weren’t spared from questionable creations either. With a focus on both style and supposed functionality, the tech landscape of the '80s birthed gadgets that promised more than they could deliver, sometimes raising safety concerns along the way.

From a cassette player with a built-in calculator to the awkward, eye-straining design of the Private Eye, the era is packed with bizarre and head-scratching devices. Dive into these 14 curious inventions from the 1980s that had their moment but left us wondering how they ever existed in the first place.

1. The Private Eye's tiny, 1.25-inch screen made early wearable technology seem hilariously antiquated, long before the dorky image of Google Glass cemented the perception of such devices as a fashion faux pas.

2. While modern smartphones have mastered the art of combining a calculator and an MP3 player, our '80s ancestors made their own efforts to blend these technologies. One prime example is this retro device, which resembles a cassette player but comes equipped with a built-in calculator.

3. When Nissan unveiled the NX-21 folding door concept car in 1983, it wasn't exactly a hit on the style front. Fortunately, it remained a concept and never made it to the market.

4. The Nintendo Power Glove, while visually striking (and perhaps a bit alarming), was ultimately hampered by its complex setup and questionable functionality. Requiring a network of antennas around the TV, it was likely too technologically ambitious for its time.

5. Carrying a camcorder is one thing, but not being able to see what you're recording is even more frustrating. Sony's Betamax BetaMovie Record suffered from its heavy weight, steep four-figure price, and the absence of a viewfinder, ultimately leading to its end.

6. Despite using pulleys and a conveyor belt to dry users' feet, the electric doormat failed to win over most people, who preferred the simplicity of traditional methods for wiping their shoes.

Related: Hilarious - The World’s MOST Useless Inventions!

7. Advertised as a dual-function vibrating sauna, the striking pink home spa claimed to "mimic the effects of exercise." Even with its integrated entertainment system, the machine never truly caught on, though comparable devices remain on the market.

8. Best known for their appearance on the DMC DeLorean from Back to the Future, these gull-wing doors were marred by safety concerns and logistical issues, which kept them relegated to classic cars, rather than modern models.

9. Though the design of Philippe Starck's Hot Bertaa kettle evoked the sleekness of a futuristic appliance, its performance was a disaster. The kettle's unreliability and propensity for scalding users made it a poorly-designed, impractical product.

10. The Enterprex Music Vest, complete with two speakers and the puzzling addition of Coca-Cola logos on some versions, was a wearable audio device that never achieved widespread popularity. For better or worse, it stayed on the fringes of the market.

11. Part motorcycle, part scooter, and seemingly a fusion of a Harley and a Honda Accord, the Japanese automaker's 1989 touring motorcycle was pitched as a stylish, trunk-equipped option for young professionals. However, the vehicle's ambiguous identity quickly led to its downfall.

12. With bindings similar to those on traditional skis, the monoski struggled to compete with the surge of snowboarding in the '90s, which nearly led to its end. Some say that the monoski's unusual design, while challenging, may be experiencing a revival in the snow sports world.

13. The Volvo-engineered Itera bicycle, marketed as an "eternal machine" made from spaceship-grade plastic, ultimately succumbed to the realities of Earth's gravity. Its plastic frame, despite the futuristic claim, proved remarkably unstable and prone to wobbling.

Related: These Crazy Inventions Are Actually Surprisingly Useful

14. The Tomy Omnibus 2000 offered futuristic beverage service for the lazy. However, these conveniences weren't enough to make the product a success.

All images: eBaum's World

Like Next Post Send Share WhatsApp

Copy Link

Did you mean:

Continue With: Facebook Google

By continuing, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy

Report copyright infringement

Print this content

You may also like:

Science and Technology

14 Retro Inventions That Stunned Crowds Back in the Day

These inventions were the talk of the town back in the day.

Travel

These Asian Inventions Will Change the Way We Live!

Asia Has Already Jumped Into the Future! Crazy Innovations

These inventions show Asia is already living in the future.

Science and Technology

9 Brilliant Women Inventors You Never Heard About

9 Women Inventors Who Have Been Overlooked by History

History has overlooked many great women inventors. Here’s your chance to get to know a few of them.

Baba Recommends

Before Smartphones, These Home Items Kept Us Busy

13 Old-School Home Items That Defined Life Before 1980

Take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of these vintage home items.

Tips, Life Hacks and DIY

These Genius New Inventions Make the World an Easier Place

16 Useful Inventions That You Never Knew Your City Needs!

These cool and awesome inventions have been designed to make the world a much better and easier place.

Baba Recommends

These Failed Inventions Were Supposed To Change the World

8 Weird and Wacky Failed Inventions from the Past

Here is a look at some weird and wacky inventions from the past that never quite took off despite their innovativeness.

Baba Recommends

Simone de Beauvoir on Aging, Freedom, and Authentic Living

Here is Simone de Beauvoir's story, the principles behind her thinking, and how they can enrich the way we live today.

Tips, Life Hacks and DIY

10 Surprising Things You Can Safely Put in the Wash

Here are ten items you may never have thought to toss in the wash.

Send Comment

Related Topics: inventions, weird looking, tech fails, inventions that changed the world, vintage inventions, funny inventions

Quizzes

General Knowledge Test

Think you know a thing or two about the world? Think again.

We Give You the Meaning, You Choose the Word

This 14 question assessment is designed to challenge even the most seasoned bibliophiles and wordsmiths.

General Knowledge Quiz

We've skipped the tired old questions you've seen a hundred times and gathered 15 of the most surprising, delightful, and downright odd facts from the corners of science, language, history, and the animal kingdom.