Inventions & Breakthroughs of December 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 December 20, 1984
Full News Archive
- Headline: Farmers' Struggles Explored in 'The River'. Impact: The film 'The River' inspired a global movement of farmers who, in a fit of artistic rebellion, started writing poetry about their struggles. This led to an unexpected rise in farmer-led literary festivals, ultimately making agriculture the new hipster trend.. Fact: Did you know that before this film, farmers were actually just known for their exceptional talent in making hay? Now they're also poets!.
- Headline: Dance for Change: 'Breakin' 2' Screening. Impact: The daring dancers of 'Breakin' 2' not only saved their community center but also inadvertently launched a worldwide dance revolution. This led to dance-offs in corporate boardrooms and the eventual downfall of several stuffy CEOs who couldn't keep up.. Fact: Fun fact: The original title for 'Breakin' 2' was 'Breakin' 1: The Sequel,' because obviously, they were just warming up!.
- Headline: FDIC's Bold Director Overhaul. Impact: The FDIC's move to oust those directors set off a chain reaction in the banking world, sparking a secret society of disgruntled bankers who now meet in basements to plot the downfall of the next financial institution. Spoiler alert: They still haven't figured out how to make a good coffee.. Fact: Surprisingly, ousting directors is a lot like deleting files on your computer—sometimes it feels satisfying, but you just know the chaos is lurking somewhere in the recycle bin..
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