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I've been thinking a lot lately about tech that just didn't quite land when it was released, not because it was bad, but because the world wasn't ready for it. pagers, as a notable example, were replaced by cell phones, but think about all the times you just needed a speedy notification and not a full phone call. It's arguably a purpose now well-served by smartwatches, but pagers were doing it decades ago.
Similarly, early PDA devices, before smartphones took off, had remarkable organizing capabilities and the potential for mobile productivity. However, limited connectivity and clunky interfaces held them back. Now we have ubiquitous high-speed internet and intuitive touchscreens. It makes you wonder what other cool ideas got shelved because the supporting infrastructure or complimentary technologies simply weren't there yet.
What are some other examples of cool tech products that were ahead of their time? What limitations do you think held them back from achieving mainstream success, and are there modern equivalents that finally got it right? I’m curious to hear what everyone thinks.