• Sinclair C5 – Top speed 15 mph. 17,000 sold. Nation scoffs.

• Betamax – Who says the best tape wins?

• British Rail APT – Leaning train made VIPs vomit on test run, so not all bad.

• Digital Compact Cassette – The what?

• Virtual Reality – Very popular in B-movies, not so in the real world

• SA80 Assault Rifle – The reason why they still make AK-47s.

• WAP – Ideal for browsing the internet if you have nothing else to do. Ever.

• Segway Personal Transporter – Failed to foresee the widespread availability of walking.

• Beagle 2 – It cost £40 million and they don't know where it is.

• Jet packs – Didn't you expect to have one by now, too?