Inventions & Breakthroughs of August 1982
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
Compact Disc Player (Consumer)
2 
Laptop Computer Concept
3 
Medical CT Scanner Improvements
4 
Digital Audio Recording System
5 
Artificial Heart Implant
6 
Automated Teller Network Expansion
7 
Home Satellite Television
8 
Computer Virus Concept
9 
Electric Anti-Lock Braking System
10 
Portable Fax Machine
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON August 17, 1982
Full News Archive
- Headline: The Early Struggles of Edith Piaf. Impact: If Edith Piaf had never had a hard life, she might have just been another 'singer' in a sea of mediocre talent. Instead, her struggles inspired countless artists, leading to a butterfly effect of emotional ballads that eventually made karaoke a global phenomenon. Thanks, Edith, for the cringe-worthy renditions of 'La Vie en Rose' at every drunken party!. Fact: Did you know that Edith Piaf’s life was so dramatic that it could fill a soap opera season? The only difference is, she had real talent and tragic backstories instead of just plot twists!.
- Headline: World's First Computer-Generated Commercial. Impact: The first computer-generated television commercial was so groundbreaking that it paved the way for the rise of advertising agencies filled with tech-savvy hipsters. Fast forward, and now we have entire industries dedicated to selling us things we never knew we wanted, all thanks to an overzealous computer and a lack of human creativity.. Fact: Did you know that the first TV ad was for a watch? So, basically, the world's first commercial was telling us that time is money, and we should all be on the lookout for a good deal while we waste our time watching TV!.
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1982, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
INTC
Intel
Price in 1982
$0.13
2025 dataset value
$274,575
Intel - If you invested $1,000 in 1982, it would be worth $274,575 today (274.6x return)
Rank #3
WMT
Walmart
Price in 1982
$0.06
2025 dataset value
$1,791,511
Walmart - If you invested $1,000 in 1982, it would be worth $1,791,511 today (1791.5x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
The Uncanny X-Men #168
$20.00
Marvel Graphic Novel #5
$95,000
Daredevil #181
$2,600
The New Teen Titans #21
$50
Cerebus #39
$300
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Rubik's Cube
$150.00
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
$143.75
My Little Pony
$150.00
Conway's Game of Life
$100.00
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeon!
$150.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Pac-Man
$1,500.00
Pitfall!
$1,000.00
Q*bert
$33,400
Pole Position
$120.00
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
$450.00
⚾ Notable Trading Cards
Cal Ripken Jr. Rookie Card
$3,000
Lawrence Taylor Rookie Card
$18,000.00
Joe Montana Second Year Card
$76,250.00
Donruss Diamond Kings Reggie Jackson
$140