Inventions & Breakthroughs of May 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 May 23, 1984
Full News Archive
- Headline: The Adventure Continues: Indiana Jones Returns. Impact: If it weren't for Indiana Jones, archaeologists might still be digging through dusty libraries instead of swinging from vines. Your local museum? Now a hotbed for adventure tourism.. Fact: Did you know that many people actually believe Indiana Jones was a documentary? Spoiler alert: he isn’t, but that didn't stop a few from trying to find the Ark of the Covenant in their basement..
- Headline: Reagan's Press Conference Highlights. Impact: Reagan's news conference might have inadvertently paved the way for future leaders to think they can fix complex issues with a few sound bites and a smile. Spoiler: they can't.. Fact: Fun fact: Reagan was actually an actor before he became president. So, when he said, 'There's nothing to worry about,' it was probably his best performance!.
- Headline: The Adventure of Indiana Jones Returns. Impact: The popularity of 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom' solidified the idea that all adventures require a sidekick and an absurd amount of danger. Thanks to this, every kid now believes they can find treasure by just wandering into a cave.. Fact: The film was so intense that it led to the creation of the PG-13 rating. So, thanks Indiana Jones, now parents can be even more confused about what their kids should watch!.
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