Our Invention Archive is not just a dumping ground for forgotten ideas, but a central element of the research project InventFail.com. We believe that studying technological failures is just as important as studying successes. Here you will find detailed analyses of the reasons for failures—technical, marketing, economic, cultural. Each entry in the archive is an attempt to learn lessons, find hidden potential, or simply take a new look at the history of innovations. Join us on our journey through the fascinating world of technological errors and unrealized ambitions.
Brief Summary:
Invention/Product: Google Lively
Company: Google
Country: USA
Period: Launched in July 2008, closed in December 2008 (lasted about 5 months).
Essence: A web-oriented 3D virtual world (or set of virtual rooms) where users could create personalized avatars, communicate, interact with objects, and embed their "rooms" into web pages and blogs.
Google Lively was an attempt by Google to enter the space of social virtual worlds similar to Second Life, but with a focus on simplicity and integration with the existing web. However, the project failed to capture user interest, suffered from technical issues and a lack of clear purpose, and was shut down just a few months after launch, becoming one of Google's many short-lived experiments.
Brief Summary:
Invention/Project: Project Cybersyn (also known as SYNCO, from System of Syncretic Control and Information)
Key Figures: Stafford Beer (British cybernetician, theorist, and consultant), Fernando Flores (Chilean engineer and politician), Salvador Allende's government.
Country: Chile
Period: 1971-1973
Essence: A revolutionary project to create a decentralized computer network and decision support system for managing Chile's nationalized economic sector in near real-time.
Project Cybersyn was one of the earliest and most ambitious attempts to apply cybernetic principles and computer technology to managing an entire national economy. It included a futuristic operations room, a network of telex machines for data collection from enterprises, and complex software models for forecasting and optimization. The project was interrupted by the military coup on September 11, 1973, leaving behind a legacy as a bold but tragically unfinished experiment that was ahead of its time.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Brief Summary:
Invention/Product: Microsoft Bob
Company: Microsoft
Country: USA
Period: Released in March 1995, support discontinued in early 1996
Essence: A graphical user interface (shell) for Windows 3.1x and Windows 95, representing the computer environment as rooms in a virtual house with animated helper characters.
One of Microsoft's most famous commercial failures. Conceived as a friendly interface for beginners, it proved to be ineffective, resource-intensive, and irritating for many users and was quickly withdrawn from sale. A symbol of a failed approach to simplifying interfaces.
Brief Summary:
Invention/Project: Production of Plastic Logic flexible displays in Russia (RUSNANO project)
Companies: Plastic Logic (international, with Russian roots), RUSNANO (state corporation)
Country: Russia (production) / International (technology)
Period: Investments and announcements ~2010-2011, active phase of problems ~2012-2015
Essence: A large-scale project to create a factory in Zelenograd for the mass production of innovative flexible (plastic) displays using E-Ink technology, initiated by RUSNANO with multimillion-dollar investments.
A high-profile failure of a high-tech project. Despite huge investments and ambitious plans (including Chubais's "school tablet"), the factory never reached its planned capacity and did not establish mass production of competitive products. An example of inefficient state investments, technological, and market misjudgments.
Brief Summary
Invention/Project: Air Umbrella
Country: Concepts and prototypes were actively developed in China and promoted through international crowdfunding platforms.
Period: Active discussion and launch attempts around 2014-2016.
Essence: A concept of an umbrella without a fabric canopy, using a powerful airflow generated by a motor in the handle to repel raindrops and create an "air shield."
A futuristic and appealing idea, but completely failed at the implementation stage due to critical shortcomings: terrible noise, extremely short battery life (15-30 minutes), heavy weight, high price, and questionable effectiveness in heavy rain or wind. An example of a concept that crashed against the laws of physics and the limitations of modern technology.
Brief Summary:
Invention/Project: "Straddling Bus" (TEB - Transit Elevated Bus)
Company: TEB Technology Development Company (developer and promoter)
Country: China
Period: Concept presented ~2010, prototype and tests ~2016, project discontinued ~2017
Essence: A futuristic concept of a giant portal bus moving on special rails above traffic lanes, allowing cars to pass underneath.
A loud, widely publicized project that turned out to be a flop. Faced unsolvable technical problems, safety issues, financial fraud accusations, and was quickly shut down after a demonstrative "test drive." A vivid example of hype disconnected from engineering and economic reality.
Brief Summary:
Product: Segway PT (Personal Transporter)
Inventor/Company: Dean Kamen / Segway Inc.
Country: USA
Period: Launched in 2001, discontinued original PT model in 2020.
Essence: Self-balancing two-wheeled electric scooter controlled by the rider's body tilts.
A technologically revolutionary product surrounded by unprecedented hype, but failed in the mass consumer market due to high price, regulatory issues, safety concerns, and a "ridiculous" image. Found its niche in tourism, patrolling, and other specific areas. An example of the gap between a technological marvel and market reality.
Brief Summary:
Invention/Product: Apple Newton MessagePad (and Newton OS platform)
Company: Apple Computer
Country: USA
Period: 1993-1998
Essence: One of the first PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) with a touch screen, stylus, and an ambitious handwriting recognition feature.
A famous failure from Apple. A device ahead of its time that was let down by the imperfection of its key technology (handwriting recognition), high price, bulkiness, and short battery life. It became a subject of ridicule but laid the groundwork for future PDAs and smartphones.
Brief Summary:
Invention/Product: AT&T Picturephone Mod II
Company: AT&T / Bell Labs
Country: USA
Period: Commercial launch in 1970, development since the 1960s.
Essence: An early commercial personal videotelephony system that allowed users to see the person they were talking to on a small screen during a call.
A technological pioneer but a resounding commercial failure due to exorbitant costs (both for the service and calls), lack of network effect (few people had it), low video quality, and psychological discomfort for users. Less known than many other failures, but a very illustrative example of how technology can be ready before the market and social norms.
Brief Summary
Invention/Project: VNIITE PT (Prospective Taxi)
Developer: VNIITE (All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Technical Aesthetics), Yu. A. Dolmatovsky and others.
Country: USSR
Development Period: Early 1960s (prototype ~1964)
Essence: An experimental car specifically designed as a taxi, featuring a futuristic design, cab-over layout (engine at the rear, driver over the front axle), sliding passenger door, and fiberglass body.
A little-known but very interesting project that remained at the stage of a single prototype due to production complexities, anticipated high costs, and lack of demand from the industry. A model of advanced design and ergonomics that found no application.
Brief Summary
Invention/Project: Hybrid car "Yo-mobile"
Investor/Company: "ONEXIM" Group (Mikhail Prokhorov) / LLC "Yo-AUTO"
Country: Russia
Period: 2010-2014
Essence: A project to create an innovative Russian hybrid car (initially with a rotary-blade engine, then with a conventional internal combustion engine) with a composite body at an affordable price.
Loudly announced and widely advertised, but completely failed project. Not a single serial car was produced. An example of unfulfilled ambitions, underestimation of the task's complexity, technological and economic challenges in the modern automotive industry.
Brief Summary:
Invention/Project: Search Engine "Sputnik"
Developer/Company: LLC "Sputnik" (a subsidiary of PJSC "Rostelecom")
Country: Russia
Period: Development from 2013, launch in 2014, effectively shut down as a search engine ~2020
Essence: State "national" search engine and internet portal with a focus on content filtering, safety, and access to government services.
An ambitious attempt to create a state equivalent of commercial search engines, which failed due to low search quality, excessive censorship, lack of users, and negative perception. An example of non-competitiveness when trying to impose "safety" at the expense of relevance and completeness of information.
Brief Summary:
Invention/Project: Ball Train (high-speed train on spherical/roller bearings in a trough).
Inventor: Engineer Nikolai Grigorievich Yarmolchuk.
Country: USSR.
Development Period: Early 1930s.
Essence: An original high-speed transportation system with carriages moving along a concrete trough on electrically driven bearings.
An ambitious, futuristic engineering project that was not realized due to technical difficulties and high cost. An example of a technological failure or an idea ahead of its time.
Brief Summary:
Invention/Product: K-202 Minicomputer
Inventor: Jacek Karpiński
Country: Poland (People's Republic of Poland)
Period: Early 1970s
Essence: An advanced 16-bit minicomputer of its time with high performance and modular architecture.
A technologically groundbreaking project that was ahead of its time but was stifled due to bureaucratic, political, and organizational issues within a planned economy and Comecon. Produced in minimal quantities.
Summary:
Invention/Project: OGAS (National Automated System for Accounting and Information Processing).
Visionary/Leader: Academician Viktor Mikhailovich Glushkov.
Country: USSR.
Development period: 1960s - 1970s.
Essence: A project to create a unified nationwide computer network for collecting and processing economic data and managing the economy.
A visionary yet unrealized megaproject. Failed due to bureaucracy, high costs, technological challenges, and lack of political will. An important lesson about systemic barriers to technological progress.