1. LaserDisc

Launched in 1978, the LaserDisc promised cinema-quality video at home decades before DVDs. These giant 12-inch discs looked like vinyl records but held analog video and audio. Despite superior quality, they were too bulky and expensive for mainstream adoption.

Why it mattered: LaserDisc pioneered optical media and inspired the CD, DVD, and Blu-ray formats that followed.

2. Sony MiniDisc

Released in 1992, the MiniDisc was Sony’s attempt to replace cassettes. Housed in a plastic shell, the digital discs were rewritable, portable, and durable. Sadly, high costs and the rise of MP3 players buried the format.

Why it mattered: MiniDiscs introduced random access in portable music and influenced the design of digital audio players.

3. PalmPilot

Debuting in 1996, the PalmPilot was the gold standard for PDAs. With its Graffiti handwriting recognition and stylus-driven interface, it became the pocket organizer of choice for professionals long before smartphones took over.

Why it mattered: The PalmPilot set the blueprint for mobile apps, touch input, and wireless sync.

4. Microsoft Zune

Launched in 2006 as Microsoft’s answer to the iPod, the Zune had Wi-Fi sharing, a subscription music service, and sleek hardware. But Apple’s dominance crushed its chances, and it was discontinued by 2011.

Why it mattered: Zune foreshadowed the streaming-first music model and modern UI design language Microsoft still uses today.

5. Game Boy Camera

Released in 1998, this chunky add-on let Game Boy owners take black-and-white digital selfies at a time when digital cameras cost a fortune. The photos were pixelated but endlessly fun — Nintendo even added goofy filters and minigames.

Why it mattered: It introduced a generation to digital photography and playful AR-like features.

6. Psion Organizer

Introduced in 1984, the Psion Organizer is considered the first real PDA. With a simple LCD screen, removable memory modules, and programmable software, it was a serious productivity tool in an age of calculators and typewriters.

Why it mattered: It laid the groundwork for handheld computing and enterprise mobility.

7. Sony CLIÉ

From 2000–2005, Sony’s CLIÉ handhelds were futuristic mini-computers running PalmOS with color screens, cameras, and even MP3 playback. They were ahead of the curve, but smartphones soon made them obsolete.

Why it mattered: CLIÉ showed that handhelds could be lifestyle devices, blending media, productivity, and design.

8. Segway PT

Hyped in 2001 as a city transport revolution, the Segway Personal Transporter was a self-balancing scooter powered by gyroscopes. While cool in concept, its high cost and limited practicality turned it into a punchline.

Why it mattered: Segway advanced self-balancing tech, influencing hoverboards and robotics mobility.

9. Google Glass

Launched in 2013, Google Glass was an early AR wearable with a head-up display, camera, and voice control. Privacy concerns and a $1,500 price tag doomed it, but the idea lives on in enterprise AR headsets.

Why it mattered: Glass pioneered wearable computing and normalized the concept of augmented reality interfaces.

10. CueCat

In 1999, the CueCat barcode scanner was mailed to households to scan codes in magazines and connect users to websites. It was clunky, unpopular, and quickly abandoned.

Why it mattered: It foreshadowed QR codes and the blending of print with digital interactivity.

FAQ

Why study forgotten gadgets?

Even failed products often introduce technologies or ideas that shape the future of mainstream devices.

Which of these gadgets is most collectible today?

Working PalmPilots, MiniDisc players, and Zunes fetch high prices among retro tech fans.

Are any of these gadgets still used today?

Some, like LaserDisc and MiniDisc, have small niche communities of enthusiasts keeping them alive.