Did you know? Here at GiddyUp, we have a time machine – and every once in a while, we hop in to check out cool innovations from the past. Some are truly amazing. But others? They can be a little strange… take this week’s highlight, for example.
To tell you about it, we need to head back to 1993 – but before we go, let us set the stage:
It was the dark ages of communication… a time in which phone numbers had to be written down… or even memorized (yes – all 7 digits – and don’t get us started on area codes). A time in which phones could hardly fit in a suitcase… let alone your pocket. A time in which phones were… (GASP!)… connected to the wall!
Most of you probably remember this dreadful era, which lasted until pagers and brick-sized car phones came to save the day.
But while others had given up, one brave company was fighting hard to solve a serious problem: dropping telephones into cake batter. Apparently, this was an epidemic back in 1993:
Now, if you think the solution to this is “don’t use the phone while doing dangerous things”… you’ve obviously never heard of Phone Relief!
Re-Introducing Phone Relief: “If You Didn’t Need It Before, You Definitely Don’t Need It Now”
Phone Relief is a headset that attaches to your classic phone, allowing you to use it hands-free (as long as you stay close to the wall, of course).
It’s goofy-looking. It’s hardly useful. It’s made of cheap plastic. But you know what? We can’t deny that it works.
Sadly, despite all its promise, Phone Relief never got much of a helping hand. The product seems to have disappeared from the market soon after this 1993 infomercial. However, the brilliant idea was not completely lost to the annals of history…
Phone Relief Strikes Back: Introducing The GoJo
In 2012, a new product brought the spirit of Phone Relief back – but with an updated design for cell phones. Called GoJo, it offered the same convenience of Phone Relief, but it promised to fit on any phone.
Wait, what’s that? You love doing backflips while talking on the phone? This wasn’t possible with Phone Relief – but with GoJo, your prayers are answered!
Sadly, this was not enough to prevent GoJo from flopping. In fact, it was even called “the worst gadget in the world” by ZDNET for being so useless. (Maybe someone should have told them how Bluetooth works before designing it…)
After failures in both 1993 and 2012, it’s unlikely the hands-free headset will return. I guess we’ll just have to resort to speakerphones, Bluetooth, wireless headphones, or any of the other technologies that accomplish the same thing (but better).
P.S. Want to join us in the time machine? Check out the full 1993 infomercial here:
(my grandmother told me this) …
The first handheld phone assist units were a shoulder cradle until, that attached to the handset, then the cradle/saddle sat on your shoulder and held in place by leaning (head/ear) onto it. Most offices/secretaries and a lot of home had them – must have sold more than a hundred million.
Cheers, Rick.
Aw yes, our chiropractors loved that device. Serious pains in the necks!
I remember telephone headsets back around 1991, the telephone marketers wore them in the office where I worked as a bookkeeper. Maybe they were too expensive for home use.
like to purchase
Sadly, I’m old enough to recall both the “phone relief” head unit and I have used the kind that attaches to the phone to help you cradle the phone between your cheek & shoulder. It actually DID help with neck & shoulder pain. This was BEFORE they had developed the “speakerphone” for corded business telephones! LOL!!
Thanks for the blast from the past! 😆. But now you have me thinking of life before TV remote controllers, only having TV channels 2-13, 8 tracks for music, etc.
Have a blessed day,
Christine
I think some of us could really use one right now.
I am old enough to remember dial phones