Technology
The Electric Shopper Car
Full story here.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jan 21, 2016 -
Comments (12)
Category: Inventions, Technology, 1960s, Cars, Yesterday’s Tomorrows
Desk Riders
I sure would like to know more about this system/device/technology, but I can't google up anything else. Maybe WU-vies can help!
Original article here.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jan 07, 2016 -
Comments (10)
Category: Business, Technology, 1930s
The Incredible Shrinking Radio
Despite the technological trend being obvious in 1954, I don't think anyone--SF writers or scientists or futurists--really anticipated something like an iPod.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Dec 29, 2015 -
Comments (6)
Category: Radio, Technology, 1950s
Follies of the Madmen #268
This was one of a series of postwar ads for magnesium, which illustrated how the miracle metal would allow consumers to do things nobody would ever want to do, like carry a baby carriage on your shoulder.
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Dec 21, 2015 -
Comments (8)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Technology, Babies and Toddlers, 1940s
The Duoscopic TV
In 1954, DuMont came out with a "Duoscopic" TV set that allowed two people to watch different programs on the same set, simultaneously. From Newsweek (Jan 11, 1954):It was priced at $600. So in 2015 money, that would be approximately $5304 (according to the US Inflation Calculator). At that price tag, it made more sense for couples with different viewing preferences to just buy 2 TV sets and sit in separate rooms.
There's more info about the Duoscopic TV at the Early Television Museum. On that site, there's also speculation that DuMont originally developed the Duoscopic TV as a 3D TV, but decided they couldn't get that to work fully, so they repackaged it as a "watch 2 channels simultaneously" TV.
Posted By: Alex - Fri Dec 11, 2015 -
Comments (11)
Category: Technology, Television, 1950s
Big Role for Rock
Here's my question: who the hell ever first thunk up this elaborate, non-intuitive processing of gypsum, a rock out of the ground? The ingenuity of mankind and our genius ancestors is awesome and baffling.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Dec 11, 2015 -
Comments (4)
Category: Technology, Industry, Factories and Manufacturing, 1950s, Natural Resources
Parachute Hat
Original article here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Dec 07, 2015 -
Comments (4)
Category: Technology, Air Travel and Airlines, 1910s
The All New Ford Informer
A woman who left the scene after she rear ended someone got turned in by her Ford vehicle via the automated emergency assistance system. When contacted by the dispatcher she tried to deny the accident but when police came out the car gave her away, again, due to all the damage.
Posted By: Alex - Sat Dec 05, 2015 -
Comments (9)
Category: Accidents, Goofs and Screw-ups, Technology
Mystery Gadget 33
Tamp down fresh asphalt? Transport wounded from the battlefield? Spread DDT in pellet form?
The answer is here.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Dec 04, 2015 -
Comments (10)
Category: Technology, 1940s
Geeky Eyeglasses for Sale
Wow, those are some seriously geeky frames!
I had never heard the phrase "corneal micro lenses" before, but apparently that was the original term for contact lenses. Sounds very cyberpunk even today. I think we should all start telling people, "Yes, I have corneal micro lenses in place."
Posted By: Paul - Wed Dec 02, 2015 -
Comments (3)
Category: Technology, 1950s, Eyes and Vision
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |