Inventions & Breakthroughs of September 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 September 1, 2002
Full News Archive
- Headline: Play Explores Baseball and Identity. Impact: The play 'Take Me Out' not only brought LGBTQ+ representation to the forefront of sports but also inspired a generation of playwrights to explore the intersection of sports and identity. Who knew that a simple baseball play could lead to the creation of a new genre: 'Sporty Queer Drama'?. Fact: Did you know that after this play, sports commentators started using the phrase 'coming out of the dugout' in a whole new context? Talk about a home run!.
- Headline: Hewitt's Epic Five-Set Victory. Impact: Hewitt's victory in this match turned him into a household name, leading to countless endorsements and a reality TV show about his life, where he awkwardly tried to teach tennis to cats. One can only wonder how many felines were traumatized in the process.. Fact: Did you know that Lleyton's intense focus during this match was so captivating that it inspired a new meditation technique called 'Hewitt's Focus'? It's all about staring intensely at a ball until you forget your problems..
- Headline: Life Aboard The Floating Luxury. Impact: The launch of 'The World' sparked a trend in luxury living that pushed people to live on floating condos. Eventually, this led to the creation of 'The Land', where the wealthy simply started living underground to escape 'the commoners'. Who needs fresh air, right?. Fact: Did you know that living on a cruise ship makes it almost impossible to escape your neighbor's karaoke nights? Talk about a Titanic mistake!.
- Headline: On the Far Side of Day, Some Find Greater Opportunities to Shine. Impact: The rise of night shifts has led to the birth of a new subculture: the 'Nocturnals', who thrive in the dark and think that the sun is a conspiracy designed to sap their energy. This enlightening idea is sure to keep them awake at night.. Fact: Did you know that the most popular snack among night shift workers is coffee-flavored anything? Because nothing says 'I'm still awake!' like the taste of your own desperation..
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