Final answer:
In the 1950s, significant technological advancements included the popularity of microwave ovens in U.S. households and advanced data management systems used by the U.S. Census Bureau. Other products, such as radios and refrigerators, became more accessible and shaped domestic life.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the 1950s, there were several significant technological advancements that influenced consumer products. One of the most notable consumer products to emerge in this era was the microwave oven, which became popular in American households once its safety was established. In the realm of data processing, computers required sophisticated data management systems, and the U.S. Census Bureau used an innovative device to transfer data from paper questionnaires to microfilm, enabling rapid computational processing, which displays the progressive steps toward modern computing seen in later decades.
It's important to note that while other devices, such as the handheld calculator, the VCR, and video arcades, did benefit from microchip technology, they became widely popular in subsequent years, after the 1950s. Meanwhile, domestic advancements around the time included radios, phonographs, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, and refrigerators, which were increasingly accessible to a broader population through credit and installment plans. These innovations, albeit not all being invented in the 1950s, became more widespread and sophisticated during the era, contributing to cultural and social changes in domestic life.