Welcome to InventFail.com - the museum of technological failures, where every failed idea gets a second chance. We don't just collect curious inventions, but analyze:
Why did they fail?
Analysis of technological failures and marketing mistakes
Ahead of their time?
Ideas that were too innovative for their era
Can they be revived?
How modern technology can give them new life
Why is this interesting?
Technology history isn't just about successes. Failures teach us more than triumphs. In our archive you'll find:
- Funny and absurd inventions that should never have seen the light of day
- Brilliant ideas that came too early
- Technological dead ends that could have changed the world
- Modern startup failures with detailed error analysis
Brief Summary:
Invention/Product: Setun Computer
Developers: Nikolay Petrovich Brusentsov (lead), E.A. Zhogolev, V.V. Vereshchagin, S.P. Maslov, A.M. Tishulina, and others (Moscow State University, MSU)
Country: USSR
Period: Development 1956-1958, serial production 1959-1965
Essence: A small digital computer (EDC), unique for operating based on a ternary symmetric numeral system (-1, 0, +1) instead of the commonly used binary system.
The "Setun" was a pioneering development that demonstrated the potential advantages of ternary logic (higher information density, easier execution of certain arithmetic operations). However, it did not gain widespread adoption and development, remaining a unique experiment. The main reason for its "failure" (in terms of lack of continuation and mass adoption) was the global and Soviet computer industry's focus on the binary system, which made the "Setun" incompatible and "non-standard," as well as possible misunderstanding and lack of support from scientific officials.
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Invention/Product: Setun Computer
Developers: Nikolay Petrovich Brusentsov (lead), E.A. Zhogolev, V.V. Vereshchagin, S.P. Maslov, A.M. Tishulina, and others (Moscow State University, MSU)
Country: USSR
Period: Development 1956-1958, serial production 1959-1965
Essence: A small digital computer (EDC), unique for operating based on a ternary symmetric numeral system (-1, 0, +1) instead of the commonly used binary system.
The "Setun" was a pioneering development that demonstrated the potential advantages of ternary logic (higher information density, easier execution of certain arithmetic operations). However, it did not gain widespread adoption and development, remaining a unique experiment. The main reason for its "failure" (in terms of lack of continuation and mass adoption) was the global and Soviet computer industry's focus on the binary system, which made the "Setun" incompatible and "non-standard," as well as possible misunderstanding and lack of support from scientific officials.
Learn more
Brief Summary:
Invention/Product: Palm Foleo
Company: Palm, Inc.
Country: USA
Period: Announced in May 2007, canceled in September 2007 (before launch).
Essence: "Mobile companion"—a compact subnotebook with a 10-inch screen and full keyboard, designed to work alongside Palm Treo smartphones, providing a larger screen and convenient input for email, documents, and web surfing.
The Palm Foleo became a classic example of a product that was canceled before hitting the market due to extremely negative reactions from the press, analysts, and potential users. It was criticized for unclear positioning (an incomplete laptop and an overly expensive smartphone accessory), high price, limited functionality (ran on Linux but did not support standard applications), and overall lack of prospects in the face of rapidly developing smartphones and emerging netbooks.
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Invention/Product: Palm Foleo
Company: Palm, Inc.
Country: USA
Period: Announced in May 2007, canceled in September 2007 (before launch).
Essence: "Mobile companion"—a compact subnotebook with a 10-inch screen and full keyboard, designed to work alongside Palm Treo smartphones, providing a larger screen and convenient input for email, documents, and web surfing.
The Palm Foleo became a classic example of a product that was canceled before hitting the market due to extremely negative reactions from the press, analysts, and potential users. It was criticized for unclear positioning (an incomplete laptop and an overly expensive smartphone accessory), high price, limited functionality (ran on Linux but did not support standard applications), and overall lack of prospects in the face of rapidly developing smartphones and emerging netbooks.
Learn more
Brief Summary:
Invention/Product: Sony Librie EBR-1000EP e-reader
Company: Sony Corporation (in collaboration with Philips and E Ink Corporation)
Country: Japan
Period: Released in Japan in April 2004
Essence: One of the first commercially available e-readers using electronic ink (E Ink) technology to create a paper-like display.
The Sony Librie was a pioneering device, ahead of its time, laying the groundwork for future e-readers like the Amazon Kindle. However, it did not achieve commercial success due to its high price, limited content selection, inconvenient DRM system, short content lifespan (books "self-destructed" after 60 days), and the market's overall unpreparedness for such a type of device.
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Invention/Product: Sony Librie EBR-1000EP e-reader
Company: Sony Corporation (in collaboration with Philips and E Ink Corporation)
Country: Japan
Period: Released in Japan in April 2004
Essence: One of the first commercially available e-readers using electronic ink (E Ink) technology to create a paper-like display.
The Sony Librie was a pioneering device, ahead of its time, laying the groundwork for future e-readers like the Amazon Kindle. However, it did not achieve commercial success due to its high price, limited content selection, inconvenient DRM system, short content lifespan (books "self-destructed" after 60 days), and the market's overall unpreparedness for such a type of device.
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Brief Summary:
Invention/Product: Microsoft Kin (models Kin ONE and Kin TWO)
Company: Microsoft (developed by a team from Danger Inc., acquired by Microsoft, creators of Hiptop/Sidekick)
Country: USA
Period: Released in May 2010, discontinued in June 2010 (lasted about 48 days).
Essence: A series of two mobile phones with QWERTY keyboards and touch screens, aimed at youth and active social network use.
One of Microsoft's fastest and most resounding failures in the mobile market. A project with significant resources invested turned out to be unclaimed due to high tariff plan prices, limited functionality (lack of third-party apps, games, calendar), unsuccessful interface, and tough competition from fully-fledged smartphones.
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Invention/Product: Microsoft Kin (models Kin ONE and Kin TWO)
Company: Microsoft (developed by a team from Danger Inc., acquired by Microsoft, creators of Hiptop/Sidekick)
Country: USA
Period: Released in May 2010, discontinued in June 2010 (lasted about 48 days).
Essence: A series of two mobile phones with QWERTY keyboards and touch screens, aimed at youth and active social network use.
One of Microsoft's fastest and most resounding failures in the mobile market. A project with significant resources invested turned out to be unclaimed due to high tariff plan prices, limited functionality (lack of third-party apps, games, calendar), unsuccessful interface, and tough competition from fully-fledged smartphones.
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Brief Summary:
Invention/Product: Nokia N-Gage (and N-Gage QD)
Company: Nokia
Country: Finland
Period: Released in October 2003 (N-Gage QD in 2004), production ceased in 2005.
Essence: A hybrid of a mobile phone and portable gaming console, operating on Symbian OS.
Nokia's famous failure in attempting to capture the portable gaming market. Despite a strong brand and interesting concept, the device suffered from terrible ergonomic design (especially when used as a phone - "sidetalking" or "taco phone"), inconvenient game card swapping, high price, and inability to compete with either the Game Boy Advance or regular phones.
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Invention/Product: Nokia N-Gage (and N-Gage QD)
Company: Nokia
Country: Finland
Period: Released in October 2003 (N-Gage QD in 2004), production ceased in 2005.
Essence: A hybrid of a mobile phone and portable gaming console, operating on Symbian OS.
Nokia's famous failure in attempting to capture the portable gaming market. Despite a strong brand and interesting concept, the device suffered from terrible ergonomic design (especially when used as a phone - "sidetalking" or "taco phone"), inconvenient game card swapping, high price, and inability to compete with either the Game Boy Advance or regular phones.
Learn more