About the Book

We live in a world where many aspects of late twentieth century science fiction have become technological reality. As gadgets and technology in general have become more miniaturised, sleek and capable, so too has an appetite for the sort of quirky, retro tech that wistfully reminds us of earlier times. Nintendo has enjoyed great success with the re-release of their console systems from the 1980s, and US brand Analogue has created a hardware emulator for Sega's classic Mega Drive games. Audio formats such as vinyl records and cassettes have seen a resurgence, along with the devices that can play them.

This book sets out to provide a comprehensive survey of electronic and time-saving gadgets and devices, their evolution and genealogy, revealing where they come from, and how they are developed. In charting the diverse spectrum of gizmos by type and purpose, it uncovers the sometimes unexpected connections between them. Finally, we discover how these technologies have become the nexus of our interaction with each other and the world around us, shaping creativity and culture, storing memories, helping, guiding and, increasingly, thinking for us.

"Gizmo charts the evolution and genealogy of personal electronic devices, taking the reader on an illustrated journey through the amazing diversity of gadgets - classified by purpose and type, design, origins, colour and shape. The iconic, the frivolous, the utilitarian, and the unwanted inventions long consigned to the scrapheap"

 – Simon Tyler

Recommended for:

• Fans of the Science Fiction theme
• Tech fanatics
• Retro lovers

About the OKS Author

Simon Tyler attended King’s in Galpin's House in 1990 to 1995. Based in the UK, he is a creative director, author, illustrator, designer, and artist. He began his career by leading design systems at Space Agency which produced the Network Rail UK station wayfinding pictogram system. Since then, Simon has founded three companies. The first, Mxwll, is his digital scientific data laboratory that involved creating real-time orbital mechanics simulations that render interactive charts for everything from the electromagnetic spectrum to the chart of nuclides. The second is Elxsis, a computational art studio exploring dynamical systems, strange attractors, and astrophysical data to generate large-scale generative artworks. The third is his data visualisation studio, Axisophy, that transforms mathematical structures, geological timescales, and phylogenetic trees into museum-grade prints. These prints have been featured in The Guardian and The Times.

In recent years, Simon has expanded his artistic work through publishing several illustrative guides that aim to allow children to explore the world through art. These books include: Bugs (2017); Adventures in Space (2018); Adventures on Earth (2019); and Emergency Vehicles (2020). This year, Simon has published his first illustrative guide for adults, Gizmo (2026). We look forward to seeing ehat Simon does next!

Gizmo was published in 2026 by Laurence King.