Inventions & Breakthroughs of March 1984
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
Graphical User Interface Computer (Macintosh)
2 
Inkjet Printer (Consumer)
3 
Medical DNA Fingerprinting
4 
Compact Laptop Computer
5 
Digital Music Synthesizer
6 
Video Cassette Rental System
7 
Speech-to-Text Software
8 
Advanced Prosthetic Limb Control
9 
Optical Fiber Network Expansion
10 
Personal Desktop Publishing
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON March 17, 1984
Full News Archive
- Headline: Mondale's Strategic Caucus Day. Impact: If Mondale had won those caucuses, we might have seen a world where potato chips were the official snack of the White House. One small victory for voters could lead to a potato chip shortage in 2023. Thank you, democracy!. Fact: Did you know that Mondale once ran a campaign based on the slogan 'Mondale for the Mondale Era'? I bet that really inspired the youth..
- Headline: YONKERS PASSES 9-3/4% SALES TAX IN BUDGET PLAN. Impact: The tax increase in Yonkers might have accidentally fueled a thriving black market for tax-free lemonade stands. Who knew a few extra cents would lead to the rise of entrepreneurial children with dangerously high profit margins?. Fact: Did you know that tax rates are like bad relationships? Everyone complains about them, but nobody really wants to change them..
- Headline: EAST-WEST TALKS ON TROOPS RESUME. Impact: These troop reduction talks were like an awkward family reunion. If they had gone better, we might have seen a different Cold War history, or at least a few less 'peace talks' memes scattered across the internet.. Fact: Did you know that the Cold War was basically a global game of 'who can build the biggest bomb'? Talk about a high-stakes game of Jenga!.
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1984, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
WMT
Walmart
Price in 1984
$0.23
2025 dataset value
$490,961
Walmart - If you invested $1,000 in 1984, it would be worth $490,961 today (491.0x return)
Rank #2
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Price in 1984
$0.94
2025 dataset value
$222,603
Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1984, it would be worth $222,603 today (222.6x return)
Rank #3
MCD
McDonald's
Price in 1984
$1.18
2025 dataset value
$271,190
McDonald's - If you invested $1,000 in 1984, it would be worth $271,190 today (271.2x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1
$100,000
Secret Wars #8
$150
The New Teen Titans #1
$200
Saga of the Swamp Thing #25
$60
Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1
$300
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Transformers
$1,200.00
Cabbage Patch Kids
$150.00
Voltron
$200.00
Masters of the Universe: He-Man
$150.00
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
$143.75
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Tetris
$1,000.00
Duck Hunt
$275.00
Marble Madness
$100.00
Boulder Dash
$100.00
Kung-Fu Master
$200.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
Don Mattingly Rookie Card #8
$3,000
Dan Marino Rookie Card #123
$30,000
John Elway Rookie Card #63
$15,250
Darryl Strawberry Rookie Card #182
$200
Hulk Hogan Rookie Card #1
$41,000