Gallery Of Gadgets Collected Over 35 Years

Over the past 30 years, designer, writer, and Microsoft researcher Bill Buxton has been collecting input and interactive devices whose design struck him as interesting, useful, or important.

In the process, he has assembled a good collection of the history of pen computing, pointing devices, touch technologies, watches, keyboards, mice, an electronic drum set, a 60-year-old transistor radio whose design inspired the iPod, a Nintendo Power Glove, several Etch-A-Sketches, and even the first so-called “smart” phone – controlled by a touch-screen – first shown in 1993, 14 years before smart phones exploded onto the scene, as well as an illustration of the nature of how new technologies emerge.

Part of the collection was first shown publicly at the Vancouver Art Gallery as part of the Massive Change Exhibition, curated by Bruce Mau, in 2004. Since then the collection has grown significantly, largely through the generous support of Microsoft Research.

This collection was exhibited at CHI 2011, and the exhibit was open to the public. Each device at the exhibit included a Microsoft Tag on its label, which enabled people to scan the tag on their mobile phone and go directly to that device’s detail page on the website to learn more.

If you are not able to visit it in person, do not worry, Bill Buxton’s vast array of tech devices from the past 35 years is available to experience online via an extensive visual database built using Microsoft PowerPivot.

2010 Brabus Mercedes-Benz Viano Lounge

Tilt back in your leather lounge chair. Turn on the Sat TV. Load your Nespresso machine with the finest coffee beans in the world, then take a photo of it all with your iPhone. Load the photo and to your Twitpic from the on-board Sony Vaio laptop. Did I mention that you can do all this while cruising down the interstate at 80 mph? Classy.

11. Plasma Scalpel

Flying Car: Terrafugia

Even though we’re well into the 2000s, nobody has come up with a Jetsons-style flying car. Until now. The Terrafugia Transition is more of a driving plane than a flying car, but it’s a promising first step. The world’s first street legal plane hits runways and highways in 2010.

Gocycle Electric Bicycle

Coast in electric mode for up to 20 miles in this little sucker, then fold it up and take it with you. Of course, you might want to pedal every now and then, just to make it look like you’re making an effort.

Sony 3D-360 Hologram

No glasses needed! Just turn on your tabletop unit and enjoy a 360-degree view of images and possibly video through this stereoscopic display. Sony isn’t yet sure what to use it for, but ads, video games, and medical visualizations are just a few ideas.

nPower Personal Energy Generator

The PEG harvests one of the biggest energy hogs on earth–you. Place the little device into your bag or briefcase, plug in your cell phone, GPS, or iPod, and let your kinetic energy power up your gadgets while you walk. You can get an 80% charge in one hour through your own energy alone. Green and brilliant.