The Decades That Invented the Future, Part 6: 1951-1960

Today's leading-edge technology is headed straight for tomorrow's junk pile, but that doesn't make it any less awesome. Sometimes, though, something truly revolutionary cuts through the clutter and fundamentally changes the game. And with that in mind, Wired is looking back over 12 decades to highlight the 12 most innovative people, places and things of their day.
Image may contain Human Person Footwear Clothing Shoe Apparel Electronics and Computer

All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.








[#gallery: /galleries/5b2ae116e330f44f585226d1]

Since 2007, Wired.com's This Day In Tech blog has reflected on important and entertaining events in the history of science and innovation, pursuing them chronologically for each day of the year. Hundreds of these essays have now been collected into a trivia book, Mad Science: Einstein's Fridge, Dewar's Flask, Mach's Speed and 362 Other Inventions and Discoveries that Made Our World*. It goes on sale Nov. 13, and is available for pre-order today at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other online book stores.*