15 Tech Toys of the 1970s

From the TRS 80 to the Atari 2600, electronic toys in the 1970s were a tad more sophisticated than the Barbies and pet rocks of that era.

Rob Spiegel

July 8, 2024

15 Slides
Pong video games

Already have an account?

Daniel Boczarski for Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

At a Glance

  • Pong was a table tennis-themed arcade video game, featuring simple two-dimensional graphics.
  • The Walkman was a portable cassette player that allowed people to listen to music on the go.
  • The 1970s LEGO sets marked a significant period in the evolution of the iconic building toys.

Here are 15 classic tech-based toys of the 1970s. Some of the gadgets of the era – such as the Philips N1500 VCR and the Commodore PET – were meant to be more than just toys. But in their use, they were designed for entertainment. That effectively made them toys for all ages.

Here’s a quick video followed a browse through the slideshow of great 1970s toys.

About the Author

Rob Spiegel

Rob Spiegel serves as a senior editor for Design News. He started with Design News in 2002 as a freelancer covering sustainability issues, including the transistion in electronic components to RoHS compliance. Rob was hired by Design News as senior editor in 2011 to cover automation, manufacturing, 3D printing, robotics, AI, and more.

Prior to his work with Design News, Rob worked as a senior editor for Electronic News and Ecommerce Business. He served as contributing editolr to Automation World for eight years, and he has contributed to Supply Chain Management Review, Logistics Management, Ecommerce Times, and many other trade publications. He is the author of six books on small business and internet commerce, inclluding Net Strategy: Charting the Digital Course for Your Company's Growth.

He has been published in magazines that range from Rolling Stone to True Confessions.

Rob has won a number of awards for his technolloghy coverage, including a Maggy Award for a Design News article on the Jeep Cherokee hacking, and a Launch Team award for Ecommerce Business. Rob has also won awards for his leadership postions in the American Marketing Association and SouthWest Writers.

Before covering technology, Rob spent 10 years as publisher and owner of Chile Pepper Magazine, a national consumer food publication. He has published hundreds of poems and scores of short stories in national publications.

Sign up for Design News newsletters

You May Also Like