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.
Related: 8 Weird and Wacky Failed Inventions from the Past
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.
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.
14. The Tomy Omnibus 2000 offered futuristic beverage service for the lazy. However, these conveniences weren't enough to make the product a success.
