Inventions & Breakthroughs of July 1988
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
Internet Worm
2 
Portable Laptop Computer
3 
Digital Video Compression Concept
4 
Global Positioning System Civilian Access
5 
Medical Imaging PACS Systems
6 
Touchscreen Interface Prototype
7 
Digital Signal Processor Expansion
8 
Automated Speech Recognition Systems
9 
Electronic Mail Client Software
10 
Reusable Launch Vehicle Studies
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON July 29, 1988
Full News Archive
- Headline: Childish Tricks and Facial Tics. Impact: The film featuring the lively daughter, horse, and monkey led to a sudden uptick in pet-themed movies, resulting in a never-ending cycle of increasingly bizarre animal sidekicks in Hollywood. Who knew that a monkey could lead to a generation of 'talking' pets and a slew of questionable merchandise?. Fact: Did you know that in real life, monkeys are way less likely to be sidekicks and way more likely to throw their own feces? Think about that next time you're watching a family film..
- Headline: Identity Crisis: My Monkey, My Self Exploration. Impact: The paralyzed youth's adventures with a mad scientist sparked an underground movement of aspiring inventors who believed they could cure anything with enough duct tape and questionable ethics. This eventually led to a reality TV show where contestants try to invent things that should never be invented.. Fact: Fun fact: Mad scientists are actually just misunderstood geniuses who couldn't find a proper lab coat. Apparently, a lab coat is the difference between a 'mad scientist' and a 'creative problem-solver.'.
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1988, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
AAPL
Apple
Price in 1988
$0.31
2025 dataset value
$884,238
Apple - If you invested $1,000 in 1988, it would be worth $884,238 today (884.2x return)
Rank #2
MSFT
Microsoft
Price in 1988
$0.24
2025 dataset value
$2,037,337
Microsoft - If you invested $1,000 in 1988, it would be worth $2,037,337 today (2037.3x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
The Killing Joke
$75
Sandman #1
$500
Batman: A Death in the Family
$150
The Spectre #1
$42,000
Wolverine #1
$1,500
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Action Figures
$200.00
Super Powers Collection
$150.00
Ghostbusters Proton Pack
$300.00
Polly Pocket
$250.00
Micro Machines
$300.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Super Mario Bros. 3
$120.00
Mega Man 2
$200.00
Dragon Quest III
$200.00
Super Contra
$150.00
Altered Beast
$269.99
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
Michael Jordan 1988 Fleer Basketball #17
$250,000
Wayne Gretzky 1988 O-Pee-Chee Hockey #1
$2,040.00
Kenner Starting Lineup Steve Young 1988 Figure Card
$600
Super Mario Bros. 1988 Topps Nintendo Game Pack #1A
$500
Bo Jackson 1988 Topps Baseball #750
$129