# "Next Big Things" that weren't so big **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 3, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044 "2011-04-03T15:57:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/41 "2011-04-04T06:22:29Z")
What ever happened to “smart drugs”? Did they ever actually work, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/42 "2011-04-04T06:54:56Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Amen. And some of them weren’t even similar styles! Didn’t one magazine (Time?) have a picture of Springsteen with the actual words “The Next Bob Dylan?” Springsteen’s arrangements might not be very Dylanesque, but his lyrics and singing style certain are, especially with his earlier stuff. Listen to this stripped-down version of [Blinded By the Light](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4lZbkZ2W1M&feature=related), for instance. ---
**Author:** ![AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/43 "2011-04-04T07:12:45Z")
> [@](#): > > Every few years, picturephones. Wouldn’t videophones and SKYPE count? > **[Videotelephony](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videophone)** > > Videotelephony (also known as videoconferencing or video calling or telepresense) is the use of audio and video for simultaneous two-way communication. Today, videotelephony is widespread. There are many terms to refer to videotelephony. Videophones are standalone devices for video calling (compare Telephone). In the present day, devices like smartphones and computers are capable of video calling, reducing the demand for separate videophones. Videoconferencing implies group communication. V The... ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/44 "2011-04-04T11:42:11Z")
In the early virtual reality was supposed to be huge, and I seem to recall even Nintendo came out with some sort of VR system. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/45 "2011-04-04T11:56:30Z")
[Rolamite](http://boingboing.net/2006/12/07/forgotten-invention-.html) - Most folks outside the science/engineering trades probably won’t have heard of this, but Rolamite came screaming onto the scene making a huge blast. Speculation was that it would be used for everything and the world as we know it would be changed forever. Reality: Rolamite turned out to be the second-best way to do things and never really caught on. It pops up in some functions now and then but never living up to its hype in the engineering community. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/46 "2011-04-04T12:23:38Z")
In _The Existential Pleasures of Engineering_, Paul Florman mentions _Corfam_ and _Fluidics_ among Next Big Things that didn’t happen. I remember fluidics – there was an exhibit at the Boston Museum of Science on it for a long time, and I stumbled on a book on the topic a few years ago. I can’t see how anyone could seriously think that using slow-moving, evaporating or freezing liquids would give electronics a run for the money, but a lot of people got very excited about it. On a more pop front, there was _The Paper Dress_. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/47 "2011-04-04T12:49:52Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > As mentioned, Donovan had a very successful career once he dropped the “next Dylan” persona and switched to psychedelica. Coincidentally, Donovan had exactly the same number of Top 40 singles as Dylan (12), starting with the very Dylanesque “Catch the Wind.” He even hit #1 with “Sunshine Superman,” an achievement Dylan never quite matched. (Dylan, of course, continues to sell well to this day as an album artist and a major concert attraction, while Donovan, who last charted in the mid-'70s, pops up every couple of years with a lot of hype in the press about a big comeback, which never quite seems to go anywhere.) ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/48 "2011-04-04T12:56:35Z")
> [@AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](#): > > Wouldn’t videophones and SKYPE count? > [Videotelephony - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videophone) I’d say they do but the concept hasn’t taken off in the ubiquitous way predicted in lots of speculative fiction, for both practical and societal reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/49 "2011-04-04T13:01:20Z")
In the early 1980s when CDs came out, some people were disappointed they couldn’t record. The promised solution: DAT Digital Audio Tape. Mid 1980s the group “Lone Justice” Song by Tom Petty, Open for U2, female singer is sister of Bryan MacLean of Love, big video for “Ways to be wicked”’ Sold poorly 1974 the film “Great Gatsby” with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow. Is it on DVD? Ever see it on TV? I suppose John Lindsay had success: he was elected twice as mayor of New York City. But he was suppose to inspire the youth. If the “Batman” TV series ever comes out on DVD, lots of people are going to wonder who “Mayor Linseed” refers to. Susan Anton in the late 197s, thanks to Fred Silverman My father used to say that in the 1930s it was expected that in 30 years helicopters would be as common as automobiles. I remember my second grade teacher telling us we would probably be working a 4 day 32 hour week when we graduated college. Going back to 1946 Clint Hartung of the New York baseball Giants was supposed to be a combination Ted Williams/Bob Feller. He lasted a few years but was mediocre at both hitting and pitching. In the late 1970s Sports Illustrated promoted Clint Hurdle as the next star. The Kaiser automobile. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/50 "2011-04-04T13:03:53Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > I suppose John Lindsay had success: he was elected twice as mayor of New York City. But he was suppose to inspire the youth. If the “Batman” TV series ever comes out on DVD, lots of people are going to wonder who “Mayor Linseed” refers to. The Hub (used to be Discovery Kids) has been rerunning the old Batman series for the last couple of months. I knew who they were talking about, but it was mostly because I’ve read “Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72.” Lindsay was a longshot candidate that year. There’s probably not much other reason to remember him if you’re not from the New York area. ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/51 "2011-04-04T13:29:06Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > [hijack for a horrible joke] > Q: What’s the opposite of Christopher Reeve? > A: Christopher Walken. > [/hijack for a horrible joke] That’s the best joke ever. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/52 "2011-04-04T13:40:33Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Every few years, [picturephones.](http://davidszondy.com/future/Living/picturephone.htm) I remember watching 2001, and seeing the Business Dude making a picturephone call, and thinking “Wow, guess we’ll be combing our hair to answer the phone. Probably by next year. Too bad.” Come to think of it, I thought “how cool that they’re using real companies in this film. Maybe this IS what the future’ll be like.” Well, where are PanAm and Bell telephone now? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/53 "2011-04-04T14:02:16Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Every few years, [picturephones.](http://davidszondy.com/future/Living/picturephone.htm) But these basically DO exist now. It’s just that they (smartphones) do a bazillion other things, too. The Apple Newton (the pre-PDA, not the cookie). ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/54 "2011-04-04T14:14:42Z")
Comet Kohoutek Whip Inflation Now Car alarms Universal remotes NeXt computers The Eagle nameplate from Chrysler TR-7 (the shape of things to come) Bricklin gasohol ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/55 "2011-04-04T14:15:12Z")
Another band that I recall getting a lot of “Next-Beatles” type buzz was [Fountains of Wayne](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountains_of_wayne). After a couple of catchy hits in 2003, they released a collection of B-sides and an original album to critical and popular indifference. Though apparently still together, they have released nothing in the last 4 years, with an alleged new album sitting on the shelf due to a lack of any interested distributers. ---
**Author:** ![mkecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/56 "2011-04-04T14:24:36Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > The Apple Newton (the pre-PDA, not the cookie). “Beat up Martin.” “Eat up Martha.” /throws Newton ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/57 "2011-04-04T14:27:27Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I’d say they do but the concept hasn’t taken off in the ubiquitous way predicted in lots of speculative fiction, for both practical and societal reasons. The technology for some form of videophones/picturephones has been around for decades. But, voice-only is good enough for most communication. Remember that before the telephone, government and commerce and all long-distance social communication were based on letters and telegrams; we know how to get things done with just words. Furthermore, as [David Szondy remarks:](http://davidszondy.com/future/Living/picturephone.htm) > [@](#): > > What’s really curious is that we now have videophone technology that is so cheap that anyone with a computer can set one up for a few quid, and yet hardly anyone does. Certainly, videoconferencing has become big business, but not that big, and the home market is non-existent. > > Why? > > Having worked with videophone systems myself, and having answered the phone first thing in the morning after being up all night with a cranky baby, no tea, unshaven, and generally looking like hell, I can attest to what the missing factors are: 1) People really do not want that much intimate contact and 2) Videophones are a pain. > > Never mind that cameras are incredibly difficult beasts to work with outside of a studio environment. The thought of having even my closest friends seeing me before I’m caffeinated doesn’t bear thinking about. > > At work it’s just about as bad. Whenever I’ve been in a videoconference, the camera was a thing to be dreaded rather than welcomed. Most people switch off the picture because it’s distracting. You have no idea if anyone is looking at your image, so you have to sit rigidly in camera focus, making it bloody hard to switch on speakerphone so you can ignore the whole thing and work on the report that’s due at the end of the day. > > Small wonder that more often than not I see expensive videoconferencing rigs gathering dust in favour of speaker phones and application sharing systems. > > Gives it that nice, impersonal touch. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/58 "2011-04-04T14:37:36Z")
Timothy Hutton won an Oscar for _Ordinary People_ when he was quite young, and he was predicted to have a major career. Instead he largely disappeared. Cuba Gooding Jr. also comes to mind. ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/59 "2011-04-04T14:38:50Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > In fact, the National Hockey League is very close to Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association for average attendace at each game (although the National Football League is way ahead), and Major League Soccer is fairly close too: > > [List of attendance figures at domestic professional sports leagues - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_attendance_figures_at_domestic_professional_sports_leagues) > > NFL 68,240 > NBA 17,520 > MLB 30,201 > NHL 17,460 > MLS 16,675 😕 Using your numbers, MLB has 173% of the NHL’s fans attending games. How is that “very close”? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/60 "2011-04-04T14:41:25Z")
> [@unwashed\_brain](#): > > 😕 Using your numbers, MLB has 173% of the NHL’s fans attending games. How is that “very close”? Not to mention for 81 games per season vs. 41. Weird math. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044.md?page=4)