The 1980s had their fair share of excellent movies, killer music, and some interesting fashion, and it can’t be overstated how impactful they were to technology. It was a decade when technology reached new heights of consumer-friendly tech products.
Prior to the “Me decade”, technology was seen as some far off, almost science fiction-like occurrence. However, with the 80s came personal computers for the first time as well as the introduction of technology to households for the sake of convenience and entertainment. There are products that are more emblematic of the decade than others, with many leaving lasting impacts still seen today.
The Clapper
With an iconic jingle, The Clapper was heralded by lazy people everywhere who hated to walk a few extra feet to turn the lights on or off. Jokes aside, the Clapper was greatly enjoyed and appreciated for the convenience it added to many people’s daily lives.
The Clapper could be used for lighting, stereos or even the TV from anywhere in the room. Introduced in 1984, The Clapper is still for sale from many different outlets such as Walgreens and Amazon.
Simon
When anyone reminisces about the fads and products of the ’80s, the game Simon is consistently brought up. It’s made appearances in many shows from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia to American Dad, showing how popular this simple yet addictive gadget was in the ’80s. A memory game at its core, Simon could be played alone or in groups. In the game, a sound would go off as well as a lit up color panel that the player would then have to remember and push when it was their turn. Years later, Simon is a fun ’80s toy that can still be bought today.
ZX Spectrum
Made by the British manufacturing company Sinclair in 1982, the ZX Spectrum was an 8-bit (in other words, micro) home computer. Aimed at mainstream audiences, the ZX Spectrum has been credited with launching the British information technology industry.
This innovative tech eventually experienced competition with counterparts from the United States like the Commodore 64 and the Thomson MO5 from France, leading to the wide acceptance of household computers and technology around the globe. The ZX Spectrum became Britain’s best-selling microcomputer and ushered in the personal computer eras to follow.
Casio Calculator Watch
A calculator and watch all in one, any brainiac in the ’80s was all over this gadget. It also had stopwatch capabilities as well as a calendar and an alarm function. For those in the military, the watch could also show military time. In addition to being multifunctional, the Casio Calculator Watch had a face that was very easy to see in contrast to some watches that have such dim faces that it’s difficult to even read.
Polaroid 660
An instant camera, the Polaroid 660 is looked at as one of the best cameras to have come out of the ’80s and still enjoys a highly regarded reputation. This particular model had built-in flash in addition to a sonar-based auto focus feature. Also, it predated digital cameras by manually adjusting the lighting if the camera detected a low-lighted area. An added plus was that the camera was easily portable, making it easy to use and convenient.
Apple Macintosh 128K
Released in early 1984, the Apple Macintosh was Apple’s original personal computer. These personal computers were big and clunky; a far cry from the sleek and slender laptops and desktops of today. However, for the time, the Apple Macintosh was a major accomplishment in technology and changed people’s perspectives on computers and technology, making them more approachable than ever before. Further, the Macintosh 128K played a huge role in the establishment of desktop publishing as a general office function. The rise of the Macintosh is captured in one of the best documentaries about the ’80s, the CNN series The Eighties.
Boombox
Becoming linked with hip hop culture of the late ’80s, the boombox was the first foray into portable music players. The boombox was noted as being integral in the rise of hip-hop according to Fab Five Freddy in an NPR interview.
Boomboxes eventually became less popular with another ’80s invention: the Walkman. However, the boombox was impactful for the hip-hop community of the ’80s as well as music lovers everywhere who wanted to take their music with them wherever it is they were going.
Videocassette Recorder (VCR)
Today’s kids would be utterly confused at the sight of a clunky, boxy VCR. However, for a time, VCRs were a necessity if anyone wanted to watch something that wasn’t on the TV networks’ or movie theaters’ schedule. Before VCRs, the only way to see movies or TV shows was when they aired or were released. If someone missed an episode or a movie they were dying to see, they would either have to hope for a rerun or that theaters would show it again at some point. VCRs changed all this and introduced the concept of home entertainment to the ’80s and beyond. Today, VHS tapes have become rare, fetching a lot of money.
Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
An 8-bit third-generation home video game console, the Nintendo Entertainment System also called the NES, was essential to the popularity of home video game consoles. The fact that the NES came bundled with the influential and beloved Super Mario Bros. game only furthered the icon status of the long-beloved game system. The NES revitalized the gaming industry after the 1983 video game crash. In addition, the NES boasted a slew of seminal video games, including some of the best games in the Legend of Zelda series.
Sony Walkman
A portable cassette player, the Sony Walkman allowed people to listen to their tapes on the go. Before the Walkman, the only way it was possible to listen to music in a mobile way was if someone carried a heavy and cumbersome boombox with them which was not exactly the easiest thing to do; plus a Walkman was more private than a boombox as the Walkman had headphones. Now, people look at the Walkman as an icon of ’80s culture and revolutionized the way consumers looked at not just their relationship to music but their relationship with technology as well.
