17. SED flat-panel TV technology (2004-2007?)

SED (surface-conduction electron-emitter display) was supposed to be better than plasma and LCD, with inky blacks and jaw-dropping color (we saw prototypes in 2006 and were impressed). Canon and Toshiba formed a joint venture in 2004 to co-develop, and SED sets, albeit at very high prices, were supposed to hit the market in 2007. But then Canon ran into a patent dispute and eventually decided to shelve the technology as the economy sputtered in 2008. SED may not be dead, but it's definitely dormant right now.