The 8 Most Failed Revolutionary Technologies – The world of technology in recent decades has often witnessed new, innovative products that come with the intention of changing the data. Smartphones, tablets and blu-rays are just a few of the products that came a few years ago and today have entered our lives for good, to such an extent that they have become indispensable to us.
However, at the same time, the technology community has witnessed many times innovative technological products that came with much fanfare and ultimately failed to establish themselves despite the diligent efforts of their creators (fail).
Let's look at some technology products that aspired to revolutionize, but failed miserably..
1. Intellivision
The Intellivision was a home video game console launched by Mattel back in 1979. Its development began less than a year after the release of its main competitor, the Atari 2600. The device had graphics and sound far superior to the 2600, and that was just the beginning of the innovations it brought. In fact, it was the first 16-bit game console, the first to feature voice synthesis, and the first to allow downloadable games.
However, its poor promotion combined with the poor, non-ergonomic design of the 16-way controller led to only 3 million console sales. While that number may not sound small, consider that rival Atari sold ten times as many consoles.
2. Laserdisc
DVDs may have been the successor to videocassettes, but how many remember that in 1978 the first digital video format to hit the market was Laserdisc, or “DiscoVision”? It hit the market just 2 years after videocassettes, offering picture and sound quality far superior to any VCR. CDs were even based on this technology.
Laserdisc provided incredibly clear images and digital surround sound. On the other hand, the discs were heavy and easily damaged. In addition, the players were considerably noisier than VCRs. They did not offer recording capabilities, and both the discs and the players were very expensive. Thus, VCRs reigned supreme until the arrival of DVDs, which were a kind of mini Laserdisc.
3. Cinerama
The first widescreen cinema projection system was called Cinerama, and it made IMAX look like a joke. Showing a film in Cinerama meant that three synchronized 35mm projectors would simultaneously send an image onto a giant curved screen. Although it required the presence of one (or even three) highly trained technicians, the result was a visual feast that far surpassed any other modern method.
However, showing three films simultaneously in perfect synchronization was extremely difficult, as there was no automation of any kind. Furthermore, few theaters were willing to make the mandatory and expensive modifications that Cinerama required. As a result, only a few dozen films were used.
4. Betamax
The Beta vs. VHS war has become legendary in the tech community. Sony's proposed format was considered by many to be superior to its rival, offering much smaller and more durable cassettes and better resolution than JVC's VHS. In fact, Betamax beat VHS in the American and Japanese markets for over a year.
So what went wrong and Beta failed? Basically, Sony misunderstood the home video market in a number of ways, but the most important reason for its failure was the company's reluctance to license its technology. JVC, on the other hand, had no problem allowing VHS to be copied by various companies that sold compatible machines, which were significantly cheaper than Betamax. Furthermore, Betamax machines could only record 60 minutes of material, as opposed to the 3 hours that VHS offered.
5. Tetraphonic sound or 4.0
The Quad system could also be described as 4.0, in today's terms. It was launched in 1971 to reproduce the experience of live sound from ordinary speakers. That year, several quadrophonic vinyls with different and incompatible formats appeared on the US market. The result of the "three-dimensional sound" in a properly set up system was truly impressive.
However, since there were numerous ways to produce quadraphonic sound, no single format was ever agreed upon. On the other hand, Dolby surround, which is analogous to quadraphonic sound, was standardized and soon replaced the previous system. Of course, Dolby surround is mainly used in movies, as most people prefer the traditional stereo system for listening to music.
6. QR codes
QR codes became widespread shortly after the launch of smartphones, and we still see them around us, but their use is by no means established. They work like barcodes, but they contain a lot more information. Initially, they were used to identify parts in the manufacture of cars, and then they were embraced by advertisers.
The main problem, however, was that almost no one knew how to use them. A survey showed that about 80% of university students, one of the most technologically savvy groups, did not know what to do with a QR code, namely download an app and “scan” it by taking a picture of it with their smartphone.
However, even if we do what is needed, what we usually see is additional advertising material…
7. The DAT system
The DAT system was introduced in 1987 and was an incredibly small cassette tape that could record digital audio at CD level or better. They were intended to replace traditional cassette tapes, being much superior, more durable and portable than the well-known CD. In addition, they had the ability to sample 16-bit. However, failure was not long in coming.
This was mainly due to concerns about possible piracy. The music industry was worried that piracy would skyrocket with the help of a high-fidelity recording medium, so DAT was literally "buried" to prevent it from reaching home consumers. Of course, this backfired on the industry, as the burying of DAT paved the way for all the digital formats like mp3 which made piracy infinitely easier!
8. DIVX
DIVX was launched with much fanfare to bring one of the biggest technological leaps forward. Its innovation was the ability to provide consumers with a way to digitally rent movies. What has become commonplace today through platforms like Netflix was launched in the 1990s by DIVX, but without success.
The DIVX concept, which originated from a partnership between Los Angeles-based entertainment companies and the largest electronics chain in the United States, Circuit City Stores, was based on the idea that consumers would rent a disc, watch the movie for two days, and then throw it away. However, in reality, it was a bit like DVD without all the features it offered , and it required a separate playback system that users had to buy. At the same time, the rental industry fought it tooth and nail.
So, in the years that followed, companies like Netflix emerged to make digital rental extremely simple, and DIVX went down in the dustbin of technological history, as it was only on the market for 2 years, in 1998 and 1999.
Source: defencenet
