IEEE Spectrum 404 page recommends articles on tech failures

IEEE Spectrum's "Page Not Found" error page serves up a curated dose of technological humility. When a broken link lands you on the 404 page, the site suggests reading about past tech flops — a clever way to turn a dead end into engagement.

The featured stories span decades of overreach. Hugo Gernsback's VR goggles arrived 50 years before the technology could support them. The first transatlantic telegraph cable in 1858 was a "bold, beautiful failure" that nonetheless paved the way for success eight years later. Goodyear's illuminated tires looked futuristic but melted under heavy braking.

For builders, it's a useful reminder: ambitious projects that fail can still lay groundwork for future success. The page also spotlights the CIA's Insectothopter, a 1-gram dragonfly drone that couldn't handle a breeze, and 1960s quantum mechanics toys designed to teach students arcane concepts. All sourced from IEEE Spectrum's "Past Forward" collection on the history of technology.