Inventions & Breakthroughs of June 2002
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
Robotic Vacuum Cleaner
2 
Smartphone with Touch Interface
3 
Web Services APIs
4 
Social Networking Platform (Friendster)
5 
Online Payment Expansion
6 
Wi-Fi Security Standard (WPA)
7 
Digital Audio Streaming
8 
Medical Robotic Surgery Expansion
9 
High-Definition Digital Television
10 
Location-Based Mobile Services
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON June 29, 2002
Full News Archive
- Headline: Radiation Detectors Rolled Out in NYC. Impact: The mass exodus from the telecom industry not only reshaped the job market but also led to the rise of internet memes about how nobody actually needs a job when you can just become an influencer instead.. Fact: Fun fact: For every telecom job lost, at least three cat videos were created. So, thank you for your sacrifice, laid-off workers!.
- Headline: Telecom Industry Faces Massive Job Cuts. Impact: The increasing presence of European basketball players in the NBA was a catalyst for the eventual global domination of basketball by the 'Euro-Step,' which has since become a mandatory dance move at all weddings.. Fact: Did you know that the only thing taller than the average European basketball player is the number of times Americans have claimed they invented the game? Spoiler: They didn't..
- Headline: Sports of The Times; European Buildup Is a Put-Down. Impact: Martha Stewart's SEC investigation created a ripple effect that led to a nationwide obsession with insider trading; soon after, everyone was just casually Googling 'What is insider trading?' over a glass of chardonnay.. Fact: Did you know that Martha Stewart became the poster child for 'Don't talk to your broker while making cookies'? It's true—suddenly everyone's baking skills were called into question!.
- Headline: Stewart Inquiry Is Said to Focus On Words Used.
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 2002, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
NFLX
Netflix
Price in 2002
$0.12
2025 dataset value
$785,671
Netflix - If you invested $1,000 in 2002, it would be worth $785,671 today (785.7x return)
Rank #2
AAPL
Apple
Price in 2002
$0.35
2025 dataset value
$779,032
Apple - If you invested $1,000 in 2002, it would be worth $779,032 today (779.0x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
The Ultimates #1
$25
Y: The Last Man #1
$300
New X-Men #128
$50.00
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Volume 2 #1
$30
Spider-Man: Blue #1
$200
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Beyblade (Metal Series)
$250.00
Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game
$150.00
LEGO Bionicle
$150.00
Bratz Dolls
$150.00
RoboSapien
$200.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
$400.00
Metroid Prime
$22.98
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
$100.00
Kingdom Hearts
$120.00
Battlefield 1942
$50.47
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
Yu-Gi-Oh! Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon 1st Edition Blue-Eyes White Dragon
$10,000
2002 Pokémon Neo Destiny Shining Charizard
$250,000
2002 Topps Chrome Tom Brady Refractor
$200,000
2002 Magic: The Gathering Set Foil Charmed Griffin
$20
2002 FIFA World Cup Ronaldo Panini Sticker
$28,800