Atari once stood at the forefront of gaming and although it saw a steep decline throughout the 80s, its legacy is still present. Many attribute the Atari with delivering the first popular home console, and it also saw some of the first games that tied into other media like films. The talented creators of the console and the systems behind it went on to develop innovative technology and many ideas actually began on the Atari.
Noah Bushnell was forced out of Atari in 1978 and from that point began setting up Catalyst which funded several technology projects. While Atari was creating some unique advertisements, Catalyst was concerned with projects outside of the gaming sphere. After some members of Atari moved over to Catalyst the company began to grow and so did its technology.
While many of the endeavors of Catalyst were too advanced for the time and lacked an infrastructure to support the vision, a division called Etak developed the first GPS. The team behind Etak were shown the video-game Asteroid and were inspired by the triangular symbol for the vehicle. From that point on, the triangle symbol became set in stone. Asteroid is still having an impact on the gaming world, but it is surprising that the title has had such an influence on such wide-spread contemporary technology.
Despite the advanced technology, Catalyst's profits primarily came from patented technology. In fact, in 1985 when the Etak Navigator was released it was mocked by many. It seems like the technology had the last laugh and much like the Atari, it is respected in retrospect. While the Etak Navigator didn't have the impact that it initially wanted, it lay down the groundwork which our technology benefits from today. Furthermore, it has instilled Asteroid's legacy in popular culture for years to come.
Atari still legally owns plenty of games and technology and Catalyst benefitted from taking a similar approach to patented technology. While it didn't immediately pay dividends, the legacy of both these companies is still felt today. It is unlikely that a new Atari will be rivalling the next PlayStation or Xbox, but these consoles are undoubtedly indebted to a console that paved the way for future generations. This consoles impact has proved to be greater than the gaming world and when navigating streets many can thank a game that explored space for helping them find where they are going.
Source: Fast Company