Every once in a while we hear of a new gizmo or technological innovation being launched. These products come wrapped in media hype and multi-million advertising campaigns. Some of them are able to stand the test of time while some just dwindle into oblivion. This list covers the top 10 most hyped up technologies (general and commercially created) that eventually faded from public memory.
1. Manned Space Travel
Manned space travel has to undoubtedly be the most expensive and hyped up technology that has failed. After 1964 when man first went into space, there have been but a few moon and space missions but after almost 45 years, we still cannot see where these space agencies are going.
2. Apple Newton
Way back in the early 90s, the Apple Newton PDA was launched using a combination of smart and persistent word-of-mouth advertising campaigns. Even though it offered a variety of features, the product still flopped owing to media ridicule and the high cost (700-1000$).
3. Bubble Memory
Many of you pen drive fans might not have even heard of this now obsolete memory solution that was released in the ’70s. The foremost companies were then working on this non-volatile magnetic memory technology which was eventually killed by hard disks and now flash.
4. IBM PCjr
Similar to Newton, this gadget was also ahead of its time but unfortunately, it was inferior design that led to its doom. Launched as a low cost computer for education and personal purposes, this IBM product had uncomfortable keys and weird aesthetics.
5. Superconductivity
Perhaps the only technology (apart from space exploration) which still has scope for improvement but remains totally useless in the concept of superconductivity. Essentially, this aims to remove electrical resistance and speed up every gadget in the world but leaving aside a few odd uses, superconductivity remains a sad mystery.