We live in a world where many aspects of late twentieth-century science fiction have become technological reality. As gadgets and technology in general have become more miniaturised, sleek and capable, so too has an appetite for the sort of quirky, retro tech that wistfully reminds us of earlier times. Nintendo has enjoyed great success with the re-release of their console systems from the 1980s, and US brand Analogue has created a hardware emulator for Sega’s classic Mega Drive games. Audio formats such as vinyl records and cassettes have seen a resurgence, along with the devices that can play them.

This book sets out to provide a comprehensive survey of electronic and time-saving gadgets and devices, their evolution and genealogy, revealing where they come from, and how they are developed. In charting the diverse spectrum of gizmos by type and purpose, it uncovers the sometimes unexpected connections between them. We hear from the inventors designing new gadgets and from the people who use them for their own creative endeavours. Finally, we discover how these technologies have become the nexus of our interaction with each other and the world around us, shaping creativity and culture, storing memories, helping, guiding and, increasingly, thinking for us.