🧠 Inventions of 1981
Breakthroughs and everyday innovations from the year.
1 
Personal Computer (IBM PC)
2 
Graphical User Interface Concept
3 
Word Processing Software (Microsoft Word)
4 
Digital Camera Prototype Commercialization
5 
Medical Infusion Pump
6 
Local Area Network Expansion
7 
Portable Video Game Console
8 
Computer-Aided Manufacturing Software
9 
Speech Recognition System Improvement
10 
Reusable Space Shuttle Program
HEADLINES ON August 28, 1981
Full News Archive
- Headline: William Hurt Stars in 'Body Heat'. Impact: Had William Hurt not played the role of the 'fall guy', Hollywood might have never realized that making movies about adultery and murder can lead to a lucrative franchise about bad decisions and poor life choices—hello, reality TV!. Fact: Fun fact: 'Body Heat' is so steamy that it probably contributed to the global warming crisis. Just kidding—it's really just a classic example of 80s film noir, where everyone is morally ambiguous and wearing questionable fashion choices..
- Headline: Australian Heroes of Gallipoli. Impact: The emotional weight of 'Gallipoli' inspired countless future filmmakers to tackle war stories, ultimately leading to the creation of a whole genre of films designed to make you weep uncontrollably while eating popcorn. Thanks, Australia!. Fact: Did you know that the Gallipoli campaign was so poorly planned that it became a case study for military incompetence? They say it’s hard to win a war when your strategy is just 'winging it.'.
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1981, here's what it would be worth in 2025.
Rank #2
INTC
Intel
Price in 1981
$0.23
Value in 2025
$155,194
Intel - If you invested $1,000 in 1981, it would be worth $155,194 today (155.2x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
Daredevil #181
$2,600
Uncanny X-Men #141
$1,000
Marvel Graphic Novel #1
$42,000
Moon Knight #1
$250
Saga of the Swamp Thing #1
$300
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Rubik's Cube
$150.00
LEGO Space Sets
$400.00
My Little Pony
$150.00
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
$150.00
Smurfs Figurines
$150.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Donkey Kong
$300.00
Pac-Man
$1,500.00
Frogger
$50.00
Galaga
$262.70
Ms. Pac-Man
$33,400.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
1981 Topps Joe Montana Rookie Card
$76,250
1981 Fleer Fernando Valenzuela Rookie Card
$400
1981 Donruss Tim Raines Rookie Card
$1,200.00
1981 Topps Magic Johnson and Larry Bird Card
$427,000
1981 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky
$2,000