What Do Smart Phones (Partially) Replace?

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Smartphones have significantly replaced various everyday objects, leading to a discussion on their multifunctionality. Items such as clocks, calculators, cameras, and even social interactions have been noted as partially replaced by smartphones. Participants in the discussion contributed to a growing list of over 200 items that smartphones can substitute, highlighting their role in enhancing convenience and portability. The conversation also touched on the balance between the benefits of smartphones and the preference for traditional methods. Ultimately, smartphones have transformed how people engage with technology and daily tasks.
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[To see a consolidated and renumbered list, jump to post #105.]
Arbitrary goal of 200 has been reached.


Here's a fun thing to do on a Sunday. I was thinking of all the everyday objects that I no longer need as much or as often because I carry a smart phone. Because I'm old, I may prefer the older way of doing things or maybe the old ways were superior. Nevertheless I need the old things less often and I certainly can't carry all of them around in my pocket.

Here is a very short beginning to a list. I invite other PF members to add to the list.

Make it easier by continuing the numbering your entries, so that the last post in this thread has the highest number. I ended at 41, so the next post should begin with 42. My guess is that we can go well past 200.

  1. Phone
  2. Clock/watch
  3. Calendar
  4. Calculator
  5. Day planner
  6. Pencil & Paper
  7. Envelopes & Stamps
  8. Hand held GPS
  9. Compass
  10. Outdoor thermometer
  11. Maps
  12. Deck of cards
  13. Radio
  14. TV
  15. Camera
  16. Wallet full of loyalty cards, soon a wallet full of money and credit cards.
  17. Paper Newspapers
  18. Paper books
  19. Auto insurance cards for the glove box
  20. MP3 player
  21. Photo album
  22. Tape recorder
  23. Game consoles/board games/toys
  24. Home weather station
  25. Weather radiio
  26. WIFI modem and cable modem.
  27. Airplane or event tickets
  28. Sky maps/star charts
  29. Movie theater, 8mm movie camera, home film projector
  30. Video projector
  31. Records/record players/tape decks
  32. Night watchman/security guard/baby sitter
  33. Address book
  34. Pedeometer
  35. Mirrors to check my haircut from the rear.
  36. A doctor visit to look for wax in my ears.
  37. recipe book
  38. Owner's/operator's manuals
  39. DIY books
  40. Filing cabinets
  41. Flashlight
 
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Engineering news on Phys.org
42. An (admittedly small) electric torch to find something in the dark.
 
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43. Level
 
The posting #1 is confusing but the title of the topic is clear.
Smartphone replaces what?
It replaces to some extent, laptop computer for internet and some other productivity purposes; other kinds of devices like flashlight, still-camera and video camera, and your cellular telephone.
 
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QuantumQuest said:
electric torch to find something in the dark.
That's the same as #41 :smile:
symbolipoint said:
laptop computer for internet
That is now #44... :smile:
 
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45. Accelerometer
46. Audio spectrum analyser
47. Thermal imager
 
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48. TV Remote Control

49. Barcode scanner

50. Earthquake Early Warning Network Notification Device

51. Bank Teller

52. Langauge Translator

53. Car Mechanic (OBD plug-in diagnostics)

54. Medical Pager

55. CPR Notifications and CPR Coach (PulsePoint App)
 
berkeman said:
That's the same as #41 :smile:

Oops, in some way I mistranslated "flashlight":oops:
 
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56. Vein finder for Phlebotomy
 
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  • #10
I'm afraid to say this but apparently smart phones (partially) replaced 55. human interactions, or let's say companions and chaperons...
 
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  • #11
Useful nucleus said:
I'm afraid to say this but apparently smart phones (partially) replaced 55. human interactions, or let's say companions and chaperons...
I was thinking along the lines of social interaction or awkwardness but I felt scientifically inept and yours works too. :-p
57. Human interactions ( the numbers are getting bunched up from edits)
 
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  • #12
Landlines.
 
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  • #13
58. Landlines...
 
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  • #14
jerromyjon said:
...
47. Thermal imager
Well, if that's allowed [ref ≈$200-$400 add-on], then I would add

57 59. telescope (40x) [$18.03 @ e-bay]*
58 60. microscope (100x) [$14.99 @ amazon]*
59 61. EM spectrometer (1000 lines/mm diffraction grating) [$1.70 @ homesciencetools]*

*Free if you're not afraid of duct tape, and have as much optical gear as I have laying around.

ps. Uh oh: The world's first phone with a built-in thermal camera is kinda hot.
hmmm...
Anyone own a "CAT" phone?
If not, I'm calling vaporware!
 
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  • #15
OmCheeto said:
Anyone own a "CAT" phone?
I looked at it when it became available but I'm not spending $600 USD on a phone...ever.
P.S. edit your numbers, post edit additions are messing up the numbering... yours should be 59,60,61
 
  • #16
60 Waiter/waitress check pad
61 Credit card scanner
62 Cash register
 
  • #17
jerromyjon said:
I looked at it when it became available but I'm not spending $600 USD on a phone...ever.
P.S. edit your numbers, post edits are messing up the numbering...
I agree, depending on what one wants to buy and can afford IN ONE SINGLE DEVICE. Cell phone service is expensive enough. A laptop computer is far better than a 'smartphone' for the same things, other than for the cell phone capability. One can spend much less than $600 for either a laptop computer or a smartphone. The laptop is much easier to use but is also much less portable.
 
  • #18
symbolipoint said:
other than for the cell phone capability.
Laptops with cellular 4G can video chat with upscaled resolution so it's better than a cell phone IMHO.
symbolipoint said:
The laptop is much easier to use but is also much less portable.
That's the real benefit is it's size...
 
  • #19
anorlunda said:
60 Waiter/waitress check pad
61 Credit card scanner
62 Cash register

Don't blame me that your numbers are all off... :biggrin:
 
  • #20
anorlunda said:
60 Waiter/waitress check pad
61 Credit card scanner
62 Cash register
62 Waiter/waitress check pad
63 Credit card scanner
64 Cash register
 
  • #21
QuantumQuest said:
42. An (admittedly small) electric torch to find something in the dark.
berkeman said:
That's the same as #41 :smile:
symbolipoint said:
laptop computer for internet
That is now #44... :smile:
Greg Bernhardt said:
43. Level
Man, I hate being OCD and nitpicky but it's now:
42. level
43. laptop
and all the rest are one off...
44. Drone remote w/ video feed
There it's fixed :smile:
 
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  • #22
jerromyjon said:
Man, I hate being OCD and nitpicky but it's now:
42. level
43. laptop
and all the rest are one off...
44. Audio recorder
There that fixes it, I think, I didn't make sure that wasn't mentioned...
Actually, if you go back, and spend some time analyzing each entry, it will make you crazy, as it's somewhat circular.

anorlunda said:
1. Phone

The new phone replaced the old phone, but the phone is an evolutionary device, with as many definitions as there are humans, and therefore, ahhhhhh!
 
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  • #23
65. Status symbol
pink-iphone-7.jpg
 

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  • #24
FIRE!

If you take it apart, you can short the batt. wires (single strand) to create a red-hot "burner". Touch some kindling, and ... FIRE!
Also, the battery itself (with Li) can be made to ignite (YouTube the topic) ... sometimes w/o help (Samsung Note 7)

160902041639-samsung-galaxy-note-7-fire-front-780x439.jpg
 

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  • #25
hollowman said:
FIRE!
66. makeshift ignition source...
 
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  • #26
jerromyjon said:
66. makeshift ignition source...
:oldlaugh:

67. Electric blanket replacement. (single use only. Sorry! [gas mask and fire extinguisher extra])
68. Campfire thingy, when you can't find any firewood. (Not just an ignition source, but the source of a whole evening full of fun conversation. ps. Does anyone know how long these things burn?)
 
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  • #27
OmCheeto said:
Does anyone know how long these things burn?
Depending on how much oxygen you supply... no idea.:cool:
 
  • #28
69. Reflective surface ( to get the attention of would-be rescuers when stranded without service)
 
  • #29
70. Decoy (leave it somewhere and divert attention from your real location)
 
  • #30
71. Dictionary/ thesaurus
 
  • #31
72 magnetometer
73 metal detector
74 light meter
75 barometer
76 gravitometer
77 piano tuner
78 piano keyboard
79 keyboard & mouse (should have put that near the start)

p.s. mine claims to have a gyroscope and a proximity sensor but I can't think of applications for those. Someone help me out.

p.p.s. I found an Android app called sensors multitool that revealed lots of interesting info about my device such as in the screenshot below. (If I hold it vertically, it does show 9.8 ##m/s^2##)
20171119_180020.png
 

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  • #32
80 farmers almanac
81 expert advice on any topic
 
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  • #33
Dale said:
81 expert advice on any topic
You can call that the Cliff Clavin feature; named after the character on the Cheers TV program. :biggrin:
 
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  • #34
82. Compass
83. GPS
84. TV
 
  • #35
ISamson said:
82. Compass
83. GPS
84. TV

Sorry already counted as #8, #9, #14
8 Hand held GPS
9 Compass
14 TV

So 82 is the next available
 
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  • #36
anorlunda said:
proximity sensor but
To Earth.
82. Altimeter
I'd like:
83. Car starter/door remote
84. laser range finder
Surprisingly unavailable?
 
  • #37
85. Scale with self-adjusting geological calibration...
 
  • #38
1.Cigarette case
2.lighter
3.bottle of wine
 
  • #40
87 oscilloscope with microphone input
88 volt/amp meter (with external XOIO card)
89 Arduino remote console/development system
90 Rasberry Pi remote console/development system
91 WYSIWYG Latex equation editor
92 Wolfram Alpha
93 Matlab
94 Sheet music display/play/edit/transpose
 
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  • #41
Here is a consolidated and renumbered list based on all the earlier posts.
  1. Phone
  2. Clock/watch
  3. Calendar
  4. Calculator
  5. Day planner
  6. Pencil & Paper
  7. Envelopes & Stamps
  8. Hand held GPS
  9. Compass
  10. Outdoor thermometer
  11. Maps
  12. Deck of cards
  13. Radio
  14. TV
  15. Camera
  16. Wallet full of loyalty cards, soon a wallet full of money and credit cards.
  17. Paper Newspapers
  18. Paper books
  19. Auto insurance cards for the glove box
  20. MP3 player
  21. Photo album
  22. Tape recorder
  23. Game consoles/board games/toys
  24. Home weather station
  25. Weather radiio
  26. WIFI hotspot and cable modem.
  27. Airplane or event tickets
  28. Sky maps/star charts
  29. Movie theater, 8mm movie camera, home film projector
  30. Video projector
  31. Records/record players/tape decks
  32. Night watchman/security guard/baby sitter
  33. Address book
  34. Pedeometer
  35. Mirrors to check my haircut from the rear.
  36. A doctor visit to look for wax in my ears.
  37. recipe book
  38. Owner's/operator's manuals
  39. DIY books
  40. Filing cabinets
  41. Flashlight
  42. Drone remote w/ video feed
  43. level
  44. laptop computer for internet
  45. Accelerometer
  46. Audio spectrum analyser
  47. Thermal imager
  48. TV Remote Control
  49. Barcode scanner
  50. Earthquake Early Warning Network Notification Device
  51. Bank Teller
  52. Langauge Translator
  53. Car Mechanic (OBD plug-in diagnostics)
  54. Medical Pager
  55. CPR Notifications and CPR Coach (PulsePoint App)
  56. Vein finder for Phlebotomy
  57. Human interaction
  58. land lines
  59. telescope (40x) [$18.03 @ e-bay]*
  60. microscope (100x) [$14.99 @ amazon]*
  61. EM spectrometer (1000 lines/mm diffraction grating) [$1.70 @ homesciencetools]*
  62. Waiter/waitress check pad
  63. Credit card scanner
  64. Cash register
  65. Status symbol
  66. makeshift ignition source... (fire starter)
  67. Electric blanket replacement. (single use only. Sorry! [gas mask and fire extinguisher extra])
  68. Campfire thingy, when you can't find any firewood. (Not just an ignition source, but the source of a whole evening full of fun conversation. ps. Does anyone know how long these things burn?)
  69. Reflective surface ( to get the attention of would-be rescuers when stranded without service) [Or blink SOS in morse code]
  70. Decoy (leave it somewhere and divert attention from your real location)
  71. Dictionary/ thesaurus
  72. magnetometer
  73. metal detector
  74. light meter
  75. barometer
  76. gravitometer
  77. piano tuner
  78. piano keyboard
  79. keyboard & mouse (should have put that near the start)
  80. farmers almanac
  81. expert advice on any topic
  82. Altimeter
  83. Car starter/door remote
  84. laser range finder
  85. Scale with self-adjusting geological calibration...
  86. Cigarette case
  87. lighter
  88. bottle of wine
  89. USB memory stick.
  90. oscilloscope with microphone input
  91. volt/amp meter (with external XOIO card)
  92. Arduino remote console/development system
  93. Raspberry Pi remote console/development system
  94. Wolfram Alpha
  95. Matlab
  96. Sheet music display/play/edit/transpose
 
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  • #42
97. comfort blanket
98. remote text alert device ( I'm breaking up with you:, or , Your fired. )
99 . easy to cut the conversation device and ignore ( Sorry - I have a call coming in )

What the heck is #88 bottle of wine
 
  • #43
Abhishek kumar said:
3.bottle of wine

What did you mean by that?
 
  • #44
anorlunda said:
What did you mean by that?
Fermented juice of grapes especially to activate the mind
 
  • #45
Abhishek kumar said:
Fermented juice of grapes especially to activate the mind

Sorry, I don't get it.
 
  • #46
ISamson said:
Sorry, I don't get it.
Alcohol
 
  • #47
Abhishek kumar said:
Alcohol

So? How does that relare to OP?
Forgive my misunderstanding.
 
  • #48
Borescope (needs USB camera $10 from ebay).
 
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  • #49
ISamson said:
So? How does that relare to OP?
Forgive my misunderstanding.

I think he means playing with your phone instead of drinking to amuse yourself. There are lots of instead ofs that could go there. Next consolidated list, I'll change that to "amusing way to pass the time"
 
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  • #50
100. Gyroscope
You can use your phone to align yourself according to the gravity if you are drunk like hell XD.
101. Worlds biggest shop or you can say a market.
With apps like amazon who needs a regular shop anymore.
102. Academic Conference.
You can meet worlds leading academics like terrence tao and talk with them and also form large community of people discussing a topic online.
 
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