The Coolest Technological Gadgets That Never Took Off

A few futurists never hit the market due to many factors, including money, engineering limitations, and design compromises. From the “Bionic Eye” to “First Contact,” there are a ton of cool gadgets you’ve never even heard of. Many of the devices were designed in secret and then quietly scrapped, but that doesn’t mean they never existed. We have a list of what could’ve been, and some tantalizing ideas for what is yet to come.

1. Smart Fridges

The fridge was supposed to analyze foods (using built-in cameras) and then give you more information on that particular type of food via its built-in display screen. So, you would know how much milk was left based on how opaque it was, for instance.

2. Apple’s AirPower

The AirPower was supposed to launch in 2017 but was announced prematurely by Apple. The AirPower was supposed to wirelessly charge an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at once. Unfortunately, this was never to be, and we are still waiting for it.

3. Intel’s Compute Stick

An HDMI dongle that could turn any display into a computer. So you could have a computer on your bedside table or even your car dashboard. It was supposed to be available by June 2014, but it never gained the popularity that was expected.

4. The Wind Bike

This “gas-powered bicycle” was powered by ducted fans from jet engines. It was supposed to achieve speeds of up to 75mph but never made it past the initial test stages.

5. The Bionic Eye

The Bionic eye is a retinal implant that can restore some vision for people with retinitis pigmentosa – a disease that causes the loss of photoreceptors at the back of the eye, which is responsible for detecting light and sending information to our brains.