🧠 Inventions of 1984
Breakthroughs and everyday innovations from the year.
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
The biggest hits of the year — Top 10 Pop & Country chart toppers
HEADLINES ON August 2, 1984
Full News Archive
- Headline: Reviving Roycroft Arts and Crafts Legacy. Impact: The restoration of the Roycroft tradition sparked an unexpected global trend of hipster camping, leading to a worldwide shortage of artisanal firewood. It’s believed that today’s most sought-after camping spots are still haunted by the ghost of that one bench.. Fact: Fun fact: chopping up benches for firewood is actually a very niche performance art in some circles—who knew woodworking could be so avant-garde?.
- Headline: Redgrave Stars in The Bostonian Drama. Impact: The success of 'The Bostonians' led to a brief but intense obsession with Southern lawyers in cinema, culminating in the 2005 blockbuster 'Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde'. Who knew feminism could be so fashionable?. Fact: Did you know that the term 'brazen hussy' was actually coined during this time? It was a term of endearment back then, not just a way to describe bad decisions at parties..
- Headline: HELPFUL HARDWARE; CARVED WOOD DETAILS. Impact: The revival of interest in carved wood details spurred a massive resurgence in DIY home improvement shows. This ultimately led to a generation of people with unfinished projects and a deep-seated belief that they could all be the next Chip and Joanna Gaines.. Fact: Did you know that 90% of DIY projects end in tears? Mostly because you realize that ‘handy’ is just a state of mind, not a skill set..
- Headline: HERS. Impact: The bees' relentless pursuit of honey led to the establishment of the first-ever Beekeeping Olympics in 2030. Athletes from around the globe compete for the golden honeycomb, proving that bees are the true athletes of the animal kingdom.. Fact: Did you know that bees can recognize human faces? They probably look at us and think, 'Why are you so obsessed with our honey? Get your own!'.
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1984, here's what it would be worth in 2025.
Rank #1
WMT
Walmart
Price in 1984
$0.23
Value in 2025
$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
Value in 2025
$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
Value in 2025
$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