What are the best inventions of the 1960s? This was one heck of an era with Civil Rights, the moon landing and the Cold War boiling over.
The Sixties was no doubt full of Hippies, creativity and an era of innovation. These are the ten best inventions of the 1960s:
10. Portable Stereo (1966)
Although a hip hop icon of both the 70s and 80s the portable stereo was invented in 1966 as a “Radiorecorder” before becoming popularly known as the “Boombox” and pissing people off.
Bigger was considered louder and the portable stereo got heavier as youth wanted louder music and heavier bass. Boomboxes became known as “Ghetto Blasters” and were eventually banned from public spaces.
9. The Lava Lamp (1963)
Nothing screams more 1960s than the fluorescent lights of a lava lamp, synonymous with hippies and their introspective thoughts after one too many hits from a bong.
The lava lamp had run its course by the late 70s. A decade later it would make a resurgence with original lamps becoming collectables, and the lava lamp remaining a pop cultural icon of the sixties to this day.
8. Cassette Tapes (1963)
Cassette tapes were invented in 1963 and led to the invention of the portable stereo “boombox” in 1963. It also led to one of the best inventions of the 1970s, the Sony Walkman.
Car stereos were also capable of playing cassette tapes as portable players dominated 80s culture. Consumers could now individualize their own personal music playlists and mixtapes with the cassette tape.
7. Spacewar! (1962)
The 80s was the golden era of computer games but it was in 1962 when Space Wars was invented and launched on PDP-1 computer, the first ever game created that was played on multiple computers.
Spacewar! involves two spaceships played by opposing players who are engaged in a dogfight. Although a simple concept the game is considered one of the most important video games of all time.
6. Computer Mouse (1968)
It wasn’t until the 80’s that the personal computer was widely available, but after much development in the early 1960s by Douglas Engelbart, the first rolling-ball track mouse was offered for sale to consumers in 1968.
The computer mouse also allowed for the development of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) such as Microsoft Windows, and the mouse’s low cost and ease of use broke down barriers and revolutionized computing.
5. Desktop Calculator (1961)
The world’s first desktop electronic calculator ANITA (A New Inspiration To Arithmetic/Accounting) was announced which used vacuum tubes and cold-cathode tubes for its display.
Electronic calculators during the decade were large and heavy machines but by the 1970s pocket-sized calculators became widely available.
4. Automated Teller Machine (1960)
The Automated Teller Machine, or ATM, was the perfect invention for both the impatient and the introverts. No small talk, or waiting required. Bank customers now had a way to get their money in isolation.
In 1960 the first version of an ATM accepted deposits only, and a year later an experimental “Bankograph” was installed in NYC and then in 1962 the use of a card on ATMs was first implemented.
3. The Zip Code (1963)
Before the ingenious invention of the ZIP code in the 1960s, sorting out mail was a chaotic mess. Its introduction in 1963 and Mr. ZIP encouraging everyone to use it revolutionized how we all deal with mail.
Adding ZIP codes to the end of mailing addresses began to become mandatory in 1967 and its helped postal authorities process and deliver email more efficiently.
2. Kevlar (1965)
One of the best inventions of the 1960s is Kevlar. The strong synthetic fiber is spun into ropes or sheets, is heat-resistant, and is five times stronger than steel.
Kevlar is famous for saving lives with its use in bulletproof vests, but it’s also popularly used in protection clothing for motorcycle riders, sports shoes, cars, and even used in loudspeaker cones.
1. APRANET (1969)
The Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) was an early computer network which sent research information between computers over long distances.
Established in 1969 by the Defense Communications Agency it was used a few years later to send one of the best inventions of the 70s, the first ever electronic mail (E-mail), although the computers were right next to each other.
