Home >> Toys >> Other Toys

Electronic Toys from the 1980s

Electronic toys are a staple of the modern world, but in the past the idea of electronic-powered toys was a novelty. Throughout the 1980s, manufacturers were able to produce smaller and smarter microchips that allowed for technological advancements in various fields, including toy production. Video game consoles, memory and light-up games, electronic vehicles and educational products are an example of toys that benefited from the electronics of the era.

Atari 2600
- Although it was available in the late 1970s, the Atari 2600 home video game console did not reach its peak in popularity until 1980 when it released a port of the Japanese arcade game "Space Invaders." The 2600 was the best selling home console in 1981, but by 1983 the video game market was suffering. The Atari 2600 was originally released with nine games to choose from and retailed for $199.
Simon
- Created by Ralph Baer and licensed by Milton Bradley, "Simon" is the iconic electronic memory game of the 1980s. Inspired by the children's game "Simon Says," the toy uses its lights and sounds to create a pattern and then prompts you to mimic and repeat said pattern by pressing on its panels. The more patterns you enter correctly, the faster (and more complicated) they become. The game is over when you enter the combination incorrectly and the buzzer sounds. The game is still available today in modern variations.
Big Trak
- Introduced in 1979, the "Big Trak" was a popular electronic wheeled toy in the 1980s. "Big Trak" allowed you to program moves using a built-in memory. Created by Milton Bradley, "Big Trak" required a basic knowledge of trigonometry. Up to 16 steps could be programmed into it, each step including instructions on the direction, angle and distance it should move.
Lights Alive
- "Lights Alive," sold by TOMY throughout the 1980s, was a light-up toy that allowed children to create their own illuminating images. Unlike the "Lite Brite" by Hasbro, "Lights Alive" did not use pegs. Instead, it used a light box full of holes. Each hole had a miniature LED bulb in it and you used the included tools to poke through the cover so light could shine through. It was powered by four "D" batteries and the light color could be altered by using a wheel on the side of the toy.
Speak &Spell
- Developed in the late 1970s, "Speak &Spell" was an electronic educational toy sold in the 1980s by Texas Instruments, a company that specializes in calculators and microchips. The "Speak &Spell" was powered by four "C" batteries and featured a screen and keypad. Children could press on the keypad to form and learn how to spell words. When powered on, "Speak &Spell" says a word and asks you how to spell it. It speaks each letter out loud as it is pressed and informs you if you spell the word correctly. Comedian Bill Cosby was even the toy's commercial spokesman during the 1980s.

Other Toys