5 inventions from the 80s that you probably still use today

With nearly half a century separating the present from the 1980s, it’s easy to start thinking of the era of long hair and emerging technology as a distant past. However, it’s worth noting that much of the technology we still use today has its origins in the decade that brought us the Brat Pack, Big Hair, and MTV. Even though newer models may look different and work better, that doesn’t change the fact that the ’80s gave birth to some of the most iconic products of our lives. And hey, cassettes are making a comeback in 2026!

That said, developing new technologies is a process, and that process often takes a long time. Some of the items featured here existed in prototype form before the 80s were in full swing. However, they only reached the public in their final form during the era of the new wave and video games. With that in mind, here are three items that were popular in the 1980s and remain widely used today – a testament to the technological innovations that occurred during this revolutionary era.

Technically, the personal computer may not have been invented in the 1980s since early versions of the PC existed as early as the 1950s, but that decade brought to life the first examples that the average consumer might actually be comfortable using – and with which they are most familiar today. Virtually all modern personal computers and related devices, such as smartphones, now allow users to operate them through a graphical user interface (GUI). A graphical interface allows someone to use a device of this type by navigating a visual menu or dashboard with icons representing programs, files, etc. Before the integration of the GUI with personal computers, a person using a PC would have had to rely on a more cumbersome and confusing text-based interface.

Apple released its first GUI-based personal computers, the Lisa and the Mac, in 1983 and 1984, respectively. Shortly after, in 1985, Windows 1 became available. Although the GUI was developed in the 1970s, its combination with personal computers in the 1980s made once-intimidating devices accessible to the public. Today, any average PC or smartphone user probably interfaces with a GUI device on a daily basis, even if they don’t realize it.

Of all the items on this list, this one will probably be the biggest surprise to most. Even though 3D printers are just starting to gain traction in terms of mainstream popularity, it is worth noting that this technology has its roots in the early 1980s. For example, in 1980, the first 3D printing patent application was filed. Shortly after, in 1983, engineer and inventor Charles Hull unveiled the world’s first stereolithography machine, a precursor to today’s 3D printers. In 1986, Hull received the first patent for a 3D printing process.

Nowadays, 3D printing technology is accessible to the average consumer, but it is still considered an innovative device. As 3D printing technology continues to evolve, it will likely become more affordable and sustainable. That said, mastering 3D printing involves a bit of a learning curve, so it’s wise to learn about common 3D printing mistakes made by beginners if you’re just starting to experiment with this craft.

Smartphones have made it possible for casual and committed gamers to indulge in their hobby virtually anywhere they go. The days when you needed a large console or dedicated gaming PC to enjoy truly entertaining video games are long gone. While technology has certainly evolved over the years, handheld gaming essentially began with the Nintendo Game Boy.

Nintendo’s first handheld gaming console was released in 1989. While it wasn’t technically the first handheld gaming device, those that came before it all had the same limitation: no interchangeable games. The Nintendo Game Boy’s cartridge system was a game changer. Immediately, gamers saw the appeal of the device, leading to sales of a million units in the United States alone in just a few weeks after the Game Boy’s release. It may be more of a nostalgia icon than an actual gaming technology these days, but the Game Boy still deserves credit for paving the way for portable gaming today.

Whether you pronounce it with a hard G or a soft G, the GIF is truly a remarkable little technology that has a surprising connection to the 1980s. Without the GIF, how could we show off our wit and meme knowledge in text messages, Slack threads, and social media posts? These short, animated, looping clips are essentially thumbnail videos, and they’re such a common part of how we communicate in the Internet age that many don’t realize the format was invented to solve a practical problem.

Before widespread access to the Internet, subscription companies like CompuServe offered email and related services. However, users found it difficult to send multiple large color image files as efficiently as they wanted. So CompuServe commissioned one of its computer scientists, Stephen Wilhite, to develop compression technology that would reduce image file sizes without sacrificing color. The result, introduced in 1987, was GIF, which stands for graphics interchange format. In addition to compressing images effectively, it allowed users to organize them into a sort of mini slideshow. This feature would become the animated GIFs we know today. Think about that the next time you send a three-second clip of a cat doing cat things.

To reiterate an important point, developing new technology takes time. Technically, the first call on a mobile phone took place in 1973, when Motorola engineer Martin Cooper demonstrated the technology he and his team were working on. According to Cooper, he actually took the opportunity to engage in a little competitive sparring – he claims to have called a rival at AT&T to show him that his team had first developed a working cell phone.

However, it would be another ten years before Motorola turned a working prototype into a commercially available product. That product was the Motorola DynaTAC, released in 1983, and a big brick of a device by today’s standards. Its bulky appearance might be a visual punchline today, but back when “Pong” was still considered a technological marvel, it probably produced an entirely different impression. This device paved the way for our modern smartphones.

These inventions remind us that the past is not as distant as we might think. Yes, your MacBook may be a far cry from the Apple Lisa, but at its core, they’re the same type of device. The 1980s were a time when technological advancements seemed to arise every day, and many gadgets from that decade had real staying power.