One of the most prominent inventors in the tech industry has just died. The Guardian reports that Sir Clive Sinclair, 81, died on September 16th after a long battle with cancer. His ZX computers are his most well-known product. They were a success in the UK in the 1980s, when many models were expensive. For example, a ZX Spectrum 16K cost 125, where Apple sold the Apple II for $12,298 a few years before.
Sinclair Executive was also widely recognized as the inventor of the first pocket calculator in 1972. The Texas Instruments first programmable calculator, the HP-65, didn't arrive until 1974. He was also an early pioneer in electric transportation. In 1985, he developed the C5 electric tricycle.
His projects did not always succeed, just like many inventors. Sinclair's computer company ran into problems in 1984 due to the disastrous QL. He sold the company in 1985 to Amstrad. The C5 was a decade ahead of its time but that didn't translate into sales. Sinclairs' car business was unable to survive for more than one year after the C5's launch.
However, Sinclair's legacy remains clear. Sinclair's computers were a turning point for many gamers and game designers. McGill University pointed out that ZX Spectrums were the platform from which many notable creators and studios like Rare, Peter Molyneux and David Perry grew up. Even in this smartphone age, pocket calculators still have their place. It's safe for us to say that EVs will be around forever, even open-air rides. Sinclar's technology may have had an impact on your life even if it's not something you've ever touched.
