Adapt to survive: The gadgets that could bring back the former greats
Atari is to start making wearables! The former gaming
giant has just announced that apparel will be one of its new business ventures
, along with gambling and more apps. Which got us thinking, which other former tech giants are due a comeback? And what could be the products that turn around their fortunes? Let’s take a look.
giant has just announced that apparel will be one of its new business ventures, along with gambling and more apps. Which got us thinking, which other former tech giants are due a comeback? And what could be the products that turn around their fortunes? Let’s take a look.
1 Atari Pong Goggles
An obvious one, this. Like Google Glass, but it lets you play a game of Pong as you walk down the street. Naturally, controls would be hands-free – you’d control each paddle with your corresponding eye. The more you squint, the more the paddle moves down. Open your eye wide to move it up. It could be just the shot in the arm the former gaming giant needs. It could even add in other games using augmented reality. Pac-Man laid out on the city grid in front of you, anyone?
, but it lets you play a game of Pong as you walk down the street. Naturally, controls would be hands-free – you’d control each paddle with your corresponding eye. The more you squint, the more the paddle moves down. Open your eye wide to move it up. It could be just the shot in the arm the former gaming giant needs. It could even add in other games using augmented reality. Pac-Man laid out on the city grid in front of you, anyone?
2 Face Palm
Palm’s smartphones never met with much success. Not in their later years anyway. The Treo fared ok back in the early 2000s, when smartphones were the preserve of IT workers and business professionals. But – like many of its ilk – it was blown out of the water when the iPhone came along. The Treo was succeeded by the Pre, but that didn’t fare much better. The Face Palm, however, would be a roaring success. It would pack facial recognition tech to see how you’re feeling, and adapt predictive text to your mood. In a strop? The words would reflect that. Beaming like a loon? Ditto.
never met with much success. Not in their later years anyway. The Treo fared ok back in the early 2000s, when smartphones were the preserve of IT workers and business professionals. But – like many of its ilk – it was blown out of the water when the iPhone came along. The Treo was succeeded by the Pre, but that didn’t fare much better. The Face Palm, however, would be a roaring success. It would pack facial recognition tech to see how you’re feeling, and adapt predictive text to your mood. In a strop? The words would reflect that. Beaming like a loon? Ditto.
3 Amstrad E-m@iler Tablet
The E-m@iler was one of the most spectacular flops of all time. It sent faxes, emails, and text messages! But this being the olden days, emails cost 15p a go. Now we’re living in the future, surely the device is due a revival? Introducing the E-m@iler Tablet! It’s just like a regular slate PC, but with a home phone tacked onto the side. And endorsed by Alan Sugar. Anything he puts his name to is golden, right?
, and text messages! But this being the olden days, emails cost 15p a go. Now we’re living in the future, surely the device is due a revival? Introducing the E-m@iler Tablet! It’s just like a regular slate PC, but with a home phone tacked onto the side. And endorsed by Alan Sugar. Anything he puts his name to is golden, right?
4 Sega Streamcast
Sega may only make games for other consoles nowadays, but we’d love to it restored to its former glory. So how about a console that streams all its classic titles? Sega has a huge back catalogue to choose from, and we’d love to play Ecco the Dolphin, Sonic, and Bad Dudes vs DragonNinja with a proper Sega joypad. Come on Sega, make it so!
nowadays, but we’d love to it restored to its former glory. So how about a console that streams all its classic titles? Sega has a huge back catalogue to choose from, and we’d love to play Ecco the Dolphin, Sonic, and Bad Dudes vs DragonNinja with a proper Sega joypad. Come on Sega, make it so!5 BlackBerry Juicer
BlackBerry may be clinging on in the mobile world, but really, it’s time it faced facts: its best days are behind it. But you know what is big? Healthy eating. That’s why it should ditch the mobile arm and start making juicers instead. Whack in the innards from one of BlackBerry’s handsets, and it could even be a smart device, reading out your emails and texts, and letting you check Twitter while you juice. Word is BlackBerry is already working on one. Why else do you think it changed its name from Research In Motion last year?
instead. Whack in the innards from one of BlackBerry’s handsets, and it could even be a smart device, reading out your emails and texts, and letting you check Twitter while you juice. Word is BlackBerry is already working on one. Why else do you think it changed its name from Research In Motion last year?
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