Genius Gone Wrong Trivia Quiz

Answer: VHS offered longer recording times and wider licensing

In the battle of home video formats during the late 1970s and early '80s, VHS outpaced Betamax not because of superior quality, but because of strategic advantages. VHS tapes could record for longer durations, enough to capture full movies or sports matches, while Betamax's shorter recording time proved limiting for everyday users. There were also more movies available on VHS, more rental stores stocking VHS, and a larger installed base of players, which reinforced VHS dominance over time.

The real knockout punch came from JVC's decision to license VHS technology widely, allowing multiple manufacturers to flood the market with affordable players and tapes. Sony, by contrast, kept Betamax proprietary, which restricted its reach and kept prices high. In the end, VHS won not through technical brilliance, but by being more accessible, more adaptable, and simply more useful to the average household.

Answer: Expensive, privacy concerns, and poor social acceptance

Google Glass launched with bold ambitions: a sleek, futuristic device that promised hands-free access to information, navigation, and real-time recording. But despite its tech-forward appeal, it stumbled hard in the real world. The high price tag made it inaccessible to most consumers, and its built-in camera sparked widespread privacy fears. People didn't like the idea of being filmed without knowing it, and 'Glassholes' became a nickname for wearers who ignored social norms.

Moreover, the device struggled to find a clear purpose. It wasn't quite a phone, not quite a computer, and didn't offer enough utility to justify the awkwardness of wearing it in public. The backlash was swift, and adoption stalled. Google eventually pivoted Glass toward niche enterprise uses, but its mainstream moment had already passed.

Answer: Unsafe, expensive, and impractical for transport

The Segway was hyped as a revolutionary leap in personal transport, but it never lived up to the buzz. Its steep price tag, around $5,000 at launch, made it too expensive for most consumers. Add to that safety concerns (including high-profile accidents) and the awkwardness of navigating sidewalks, curbs, and traffic, and it quickly became clear that it wasn't built for the real world.

Despite its futuristic look, the Segway lacked a clear niche. It was too fast for sidewalks, too slow for roads, and too bulky for indoor use. Cities weren't ready to accommodate it, and commuters didn't see it as a practical alternative to walking, biking, or public transport. In the end, it became more of a novelty than a necessity, a tech marvel without a meaningful mission.

Answer: Glitchy handwriting recognition and high cost

The Apple Newton was one of the earliest attempts at a personal digital assistant, and while it was ambitious for its time, it stumbled on two major fronts. First, its handwriting recognition, touted as a breakthrough feature, was famously unreliable. Users found themselves battling the device to interpret even simple words, which quickly became a punchline in tech circles.

Second, the Newton's price tag was steep, making it a luxury gadget with limited practical payoff. Combined with its bulky design and lack of killer apps, it failed to justify its cost to most consumers. Though it laid the groundwork for future mobile tech, the Newton itself became more of a cautionary tale than a commercial success.

Answer: Loyal customers hated the taste change

New Coke was Coca-Cola's bold attempt to modernise its flavour in the 1980s, but the move backfired spectacularly. The company tweaked its classic formula to make it sweeter, aiming to compete with Pepsi's rising popularity. While taste tests showed some preference for the new version, loyal Coke drinkers felt betrayed. The original had become more than just a beverage, as it was a cultural icon, and changing it felt like rewriting tradition.

The backlash was swift and emotional. Consumers flooded Coca-Cola with complaints, protests, and even petitions demanding the return of the original recipe. The company hadn't anticipated the depth of brand loyalty or the symbolic weight of 'Classic Coke'. Within months, they reintroduced the original formula as 'Coca-Cola Classic', and New Coke quietly faded into obscurity. It remains one of the most famous marketing missteps in history, not because the product was bad, but because the brand underestimated its own legacy.

Answer: Expensive, bulky, no recording option

LaserDisc was a visual marvel when it debuted, offering crisper images and better sound than VHS. But despite its technical edge, it never caught on with mainstream consumers. The discs were large and cumbersome, the players were pricey, and unlike VHS, LaserDisc couldn't record anything. That made it a one-way street for media consumption, which didn't sit well with users who wanted to tape TV shows or home videos.

On top of that, LaserDisc lacked the convenience factor. VHS tapes were smaller, cheaper, and compatible with the booming rental market. LaserDisc, meanwhile, felt more like a luxury item for cinephiles than a household staple. Without recording capability or mass-market affordability, it remained a niche product, admired for its quality, but ultimately outpaced by the scrappy, practical VHS.

Answer: Poor performance, high cost, and company troubles

The DeLorean DMC-12 looked like it drove straight out of the future, with its stainless steel body and iconic gull-wing doors, but under the hood, it was a different story. The car's performance didn't match its sci-fi styling, as it was underpowered, sluggish, and didn't handle particularly well. Add to that a steep price tag, and buyers quickly realised they were paying more for looks than for driving experience.

Behind the scenes, the DeLorean Motor Company was struggling. Production delays, financial mismanagement, and legal troubles, including a high-profile drug trafficking scandal involving founder John DeLorean, crippled the brand. Despite its later fame in the film "Back to the Future", the car's commercial run was short-lived. It became a cult classic, but not a viable product in its own time.

Answer: Nobody needed it - typing URLs was faster and easier

The CueCat, released in 1999, was a small barcode scanner meant to bridge print media with the internet. Users could scan special barcodes in magazines or catalogues, and the device would automatically direct them to the corresponding website. On paper, it seemed like a clever way to connect offline and online content, but in practice, it failed to solve any real problem. Typing a simple web address into a browser was already quick and familiar, making the CueCat unnecessary for most people.

Beyond being redundant, the CueCat also raised privacy concerns since scans could be tracked, and many saw it as intrusive rather than helpful. Because it offered little convenience, required extra setup, and didn't provide a clear advantage over existing habits, consumers quickly abandoned it. Instead of revolutionising how people accessed the internet, the CueCat became a symbol of over-engineered technology that nobody really needed.

Answer: Entered the market too late with no advantage over iPod

Microsoft's Zune, launched in 2006, was intended to compete with Apple's iPod in the portable music player market. Despite some interesting features like a subscription-based music service and wireless sharing, it entered the market too late, after Apple had already established a strong ecosystem of devices, software, and media content. Without any clear advantage over the iPod, the Zune struggled to attract consumers who were already loyal to Apple's brand.

Zune also faced challenges in gaining developer support and building a music library comparable to iTunes. Its late arrival and lack of compelling differentiators meant that it never achieved widespread adoption, and Microsoft eventually discontinued the product. The Zune is now remembered as a well-intentioned but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to challenge Apple's dominance in digital music.

Answer: Safety concerns, battery fires, and new regulations

Hoverboards became a major trend around 2015, celebrated as a fun and futuristic way to get around. However, their popularity quickly declined due to serious safety concerns. Many models had poorly designed lithium-ion batteries that could overheat or even catch fire, posing a risk to users and their homes.

In addition to these hazards, new regulations and restrictions limited where hoverboards could be used, including bans on planes and in certain public spaces. Combined with the novelty wearing off and continued safety issues, these factors caused consumer interest to drop sharply, turning hoverboards from a viral sensation into a short-lived fad.