Every now and again, someone comes up with a revolutionary idea for a product or service and brings it to market. Just as often, however, the supporting technology isn't there, consumers aren't ready to embrace it, or management mishandles how to properly launch such a product. Whatever the reason, some ideas just aren't meant to take root, no matter how groundbreaking, ultimately falling victim to bad timing.

Finding the good in a failed product can be difficult at the time but in hindsight, it's those same products that often serve as precursors to existing technology. In this article, we will be profiling nine such ideas that were conceived and brought to market well before their time. While some weren't exactly failures, most were – and all are responsible for playing a role in current devices or services that make our lives more comfortable and enjoyable.