Inventions & Breakthroughs of October 1983
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
Cellular Telephone Commercial Launch
2 
Domain Name System (DNS)
3 
Personal Computer Mouse
4 
Compact Disc-ROM
5 
Artificial Intelligence Expert Systems
6 
Global Positioning System Deployment
7 
Portable CD Player (Discman)
8 
Medical Laser Eye Surgery
9 
Computer-Aided Drug Design
10 
Electronic Trading Systems
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON October 20, 1983
Full News Archive
- Headline: Explore Saura's Flamenco 'Carmen'. Impact: Saura's operatic take on 'Carmen' inspired a generation of filmmakers to think that slapping a classical score on mediocre visuals could somehow be a recipe for success. Spoiler alert: It wasn't.. Fact: Did you know that the term 'unrewarding' has now been officially recognized as the most polite way to say 'this film is a snoozefest'?.
- Headline: Consumer Group Aims for Dioxin Limits. Impact: This petition sparked a national obsession with food safety, leading to the infamous 'Dioxin Diet' craze in the 90s where people believed they could detox by eating nothing but cardboard. Spoiler: they still got sick.. Fact: Fun fact: dioxins are so toxic that if your fish could talk, they'd probably scream 'Get me out of here!'.
- Headline: Neo-Classical Style Resurgence in Interiors. Impact: The resurgence of neo-classical design led to a bizarre underground movement where people wore togas to brunch, thinking it would elevate their social status. Spoiler: It didn't.. Fact: Did you know that neo-classical furniture is so chic that even your cat would disapprove of your current decor?.
- Headline: HELPFUL HARDWARE; ELECTRIC SHADES FOR HIGH SKYLIGHT. Impact: The introduction of motorized skylight shades forever altered the landscape of high-end homes, leading to the eventual invention of the 'sloth mode'—where homeowners just let technology do all the work while they binge-watch TV.. Fact: Did you know that the only thing more complicated than installing these shades is figuring out how to operate them without summoning a technician?.
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1983, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #2
WMT
Walmart
Price in 1983
$0.15
2025 dataset value
$784,047
Walmart - If you invested $1,000 in 1983, it would be worth $784,047 today (784.0x return)
Rank #3
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Price in 1983
$1.11
2025 dataset value
$188,194
Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1983, it would be worth $188,194 today (188.2x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
The New Teen Titans #1
$150
Saga of the Swamp Thing #20
$50
Detective Comics #526
$15
Thor #337
$50
Miracleman #2
$1,500
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Cabbage Patch Kids
$150.00
My Little Pony
$150.00
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
$150.00
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
$175.00
Star Wars Return of the Jedi Action Figures
$150.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Mario Bros.
$600.00
Dragon'S Lair
$200.00
M.U.L.E.
$182.44
Lode Runner
$115.00
Tapper
$150.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
1983 Topps Baseball Tony Gwynn Rookie Card
$2,500
1983 Topps Baseball Ryne Sandberg Rookie Card
$1,560.00
1983 Topps Baseball Wade Boggs Rookie Card
$1,500
1983 O-Pee-Chee Wrestling Hulk Hogan Card
$1,000
1983 Donruss Baseball Three’s Company - Ripken, Hrabosky, And Fingers (Card #654)
Unknown