We are currently living through a gadget revolution, with increasingly powerful mobile devices and touch screens providing new forms of human-computer interaction. Although it may seem like today’s tablets, smartphones and e-book readers are entirely new inventions, the fact is they evolved from earlier technology that was often ahead of its time.

A Microsoft research scientist named Bill Buxton has amassed a collection of vintage gadgets that serves as a fascinating reminder of where many of our newest gadgets originated.  Pictured here on the left is a transistor radio designed by Dieter Rahms in 1958. It’s sleek, functional design and innovate scroll wheel was the inspiration for several generations of the iPod (seen on the right).

Read more about Bill Buxton’s old gadget collection on the Atlantic Monthly website.

Keeping your gadgets organized when traveling is a high priority.  Storing them all in one place when not in use is a great way to simplify your travel life.  The Cocoon GRID-IT organizer allows you to secure each gadget and see with one glance where everything is.  Perfect for iPod, iPhone, Blackberry and other digital gadgets, there’s also room for other essential items like pens, mints and ear buds. 

You can get this GRID-IT travel gadget organizer on the Cocoon website for $19.99.