14 Everyday Gadgets That Once Seemed Ridiculous

[longknife]

That’s not a thing, we thought. But then IT WAS! From Drew Curtis' FARK and BuzzFeed @ 14 Everyday Gadgets That Once Seemed Ridiculous

They're all good but I like this best:

 

[Luddly Neddite]

One of my faves - h w bush discovers fire.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akLjzTisZoI]Pres. George H.W. Bush's grocery scanner moment.mp4 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[mamooth]

I don't remember anyone thinking most of those were ridiculous. "Really cool" was the more common reception they got.

Historical tidbit. In September 1940, in the Tizard Mission, a British team brought a cavity magnetron to the USA, the thing used in microwave ovens today. The Americans saw how drastic an improvement in radar technology it was, with one scientist calling it "the most valuable cargo ever brought to our shores". Within 6 months, the USA was mass producing radar sets based on the cavity magnetron. And sending a lot of them to the British, as was the deal.