10 Things You Didn’t Know Were Invented In The ’70s
I Grew Up In The 1970s / Facebook
The 1970s marked a significant leap forward, giving birth to some of the most impactful inventions that paved the way for today’s advanced technologies. Explore these lesser-known creations from the era:
Floppy Disk, 1971
Before the age of cloud storage and USB drives, IBM pioneered the floppy disk. While the early stages of development began in 1967, IBM officially released the floppy disk in 1971, obtaining patents for both the disk and drive in 1972.
Email, 1971, 1978
Controversy surrounds the invention of email, with Ray Tomlinson, a computer programmer, implementing text messaging over the ARPANET network in 1971. Using the “@” symbol to route messages became a defining feature.
Mobile Phone, 1973
The first portable phone emerged in 1973, courtesy of Motorola. Although it didn’t resemble modern smartphones, Martin Cooper, a senior engineer, made history by placing the first mobile phone call.
Universal Product Code (UPC), 1974
Inventor Norman Joseph Woodland conceptualized the UPC or barcode inspired by the Morse Code in 1949. After years of development, the first item with a UPC—a pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum—was scanned on June 26, 1974, at the Marsh Supermarket in Troy, Ohio.
Post-It Note, 1974
Dr. Spencer Silver’s accidental creation of an unusual adhesive in 1968 led to the invention of Post-It Notes in 1974. Arthur Fry, another 3M researcher, recognized its potential and used it to hold documents together, resulting in a simple yet ingenious invention.
Rubik’s Cube, 1974
Hungarian architecture professor Erno Rubik created the iconic Rubik’s Cube in 1974. Initially designed to teach spatial connections, it became one of the most successful toys globally.
Push-Through Can Top, 1975
To address safety concerns related to the pull tab on aluminum cans, engineer Daniel F. Cudzik introduced the “Sta-Tab” in 1975. This push-pull pop-top design quickly gained widespread adoption in the beverage industry.
Digital Camera, 1975
Kodak engineer Steven Sasson developed the first digital camera in December 1975. Weighing eight pounds and producing 0.01-megapixel black-and-white photos recorded on a cassette tape laid the foundation for future advancements.
MRI Machine, 1977
Dr. Raymond Damadian achieved a medical milestone by creating the first MRI machine in 1977. The groundbreaking technology allowed imaging of the human body and revolutionized medical diagnostics.
Sony Walkman, 1979
Before smartphones, the Sony Walkman dominated portable music. Launched on July 1, 1979, the TPS-L2 Walkman became an iconic 14-ounce tape player, operating on two AA batteries and setting the standard for portable music devices.
