What Do Smart Phones (Partially) Replace?

[krater]

A smart phone hasn't even replaced my flip phone yet (or landline for that matter). RESIST!

 

[anorlunda]

LOL, I wondered when tricorder would appear. Mr. Spock would be jealous. Our list already far exceeds what Spock's tricorder did in Star Trek 1.

Sorry @jedishrfu , fire starter was already taken #66, and VR headset was #103.

I hadn't heard about the thing locator; that's cool.

 

[anorlunda]

@jedishrfu's entries pruned and renumbered.

110 Tricorder
111 thing locator with trackable RFID tiles
113 Underground power locator with Bluetooth headset ie you lose the connection when crossing over one
114 doorstop
115 throwing weapon multiple use

now here's a few more I found.

116 FFT spectrum analyzer
117 Signal generator
118 Internet connection speed testerr
119 Touch screen aided ruler
120 Inclinometer
121 Color Detector
122 Color Generator
123 Tunable stroboscope
124 Data logger
125 Home automation controller

Keep going, only 75 more needed to reach 200.

 

[jedishrfu]

VR and AR headsets are different as AR uses the forward camera but VR doesn’t.

126 Music composer ala garage band.

 

[jedishrfu]

127 beat box

 

[donpacino]

128. Apartment buzzers
129. cookbook

I'm not going to count this one, but it destroys the sitcom plot, "The gang gets lost and separated in the mall"

 

[jedishrfu]

Various instruments
130 guitar,
131 violin,
132 drums,
133 synth ...

 

[256bits]

134. News gatherer via video and audio for reporters( replaces a lot of hefty equipment )

 

[jedishrfu]

135 balloon satellite
136 world clock
137 stopwatch
138 alarm
139 sleep aid (soothing sounds like ocean waves, light breeze...)
140 sleep analyzer

 

[trainman2001]

141 Remotely run Electric Trains, UAVs, etc.
142 Guitar Tuner
143 Guitar Chord Charts

 

[jedishrfu]

144 Video Conferencing??

 

[Faiq]

145 Gaming

 

[OmCheeto]

Not sure how many people have done "chemical" based photography, but the list of things involved with that are quite numerous.
Going through my stash of useless old junk that someday I will eventually figure out a "repurpose" for:

146 enlarger
147 trays
148 tongs
149 chemicals: developer, fixer, and water, as I recall
150 negative developer canister device

(already mentioned: 21. photo album)​

151 negative album
152 boxes to hold un-albumed photos
153 photographic negative material (I believe we referred to is as "film")
154 photographic "print" material (special silver impregnated paper)
155 little red light for the darkroom (made obsolete. not sure where mine is at, but I did have one)
156 Anyone remember what that thing that screwed into the "take a photo" button was called? It had two functions as I recall: 1. Anti-vibration device, and 2. Really long exposure thingy.

157 flashy thingy (I'm pretty sure we just called it "a flash")
158 special effects lenses
159 color filters

I think the "lens cleaning tissue" and "air poofer + brush" device have not been replaced. Though, I've pretty much replaced them with the bottom half of my t-shirts. Wait! That "air poofer + brush" device was for cleaning off the negatives. It's all coming back to me now.

160 air poofer + brush device

 

[sophiecentaur]

All that's necessary now is an 'acceptable' way of having it ready to use without going around with it in my hand. It doesn't fit in a (slim-fit jeans) trouser pocket in a way that you can get it out when sitting down and it is too big and heavy to risk having it in a shirt pocket (easy to tip it down the lavatory or into the road when you bend down).
The 'holster' that ageing men seemed to favour a couple of decades ago, for their regular phones was a partial answer but too 'square' (a term for decades before but you know what I mean.
The watch alternative has too limited an interface. One day we will not need hands on at all, which will solve the problem.

 

[jerromyjon]

One day we will not need hands on at all, which will solve the problem.

I thought of that years ago, I named it "look-screen", as the computer would recognize where you were looking but it isn't as easy as it seems to code it...
161. laser thermometer (I'm getting one of those!)

 

[jerromyjon]

161. laser thermometer (I'm getting one of those!)

I found a range sensor (dunno how I missed it) but why can't they put it with the thermometer?

 

[anorlunda]

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/IR camera
    
48. TV Remote Control
49. Barcode scanner
50. Earthquake Early Warning Network Notification Device
51. Bank Teller
52. language 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
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 )
100. Borescope (needs USB camera $10 from ebay).
101. Gyroscope
102. Shopping device
103. Academic Conference.
     
104. Virtual Reality headset
105. Robot
106. Spreadsheet
107. Surveillance bug
108. Tracking device
109. sign placard by airport limo drivers looking for their arriving client.
     
110. conversational assistant as in talking to Siri or Alexa
     
111. Augmented Reallity headset or viewer.
112. Tricorder
113. thing locator with trackable RFID tiles
114. Underground power locator with Bluetooth headset ie you lose the connection when crossing over one
115. doorstop
116. throwing weapon multiple use
     
117. FFT spectrum analyzer
118. Signal generator
119. Internet connection speed tester
120. Touch screen aided ruler
121. Inclinometer
122. Color Detector
123. Color Generator
124. Tunable stroboscope
125. Data logger
126. Home automation controller
     
127. Music composer ala garage band.
     
128. beat box
     
129. Apartment buzzers
130. guitar
131. violin
132. drums,
133. synth .
     
134. News gatherer via video and audio for reporters( replaces a lot of hefty equipment )
     
135. balloon satellite
136. world clock
137. stopwatch
138. alarm
139. sleep aid (soothing sounds like ocean waves, light breeze...)
140. sleep analyzer
     
141. Remotely run Electric Trains, UAVs, etc.
142. Guitar Tuner
143. Guitar Chord Charts
     
144. Video Conferencing
     
145. Gaming
146. enlarger
147. trays
148. tongs
149. chemicals: developer, fixer, and water
150. negative developer canister device
151. negative album
152. boxes to hold un-albumed photos
153. photographic negative material (I believe we referred to is as "film")
154. photographic "print" material (special silver impregnated paper)
155. little red light for the darkroom (made obsolete. not sure where mine is at, but I did have one)
156. Anyone remember what that thing that screwed into the "take a photo" button was called?
157. Flashbulb
158. special effects lenses
159. color filters
160. air poofer + brush device
     
161. laser thermometer (I'm getting one of those!)

Only 39 more needed to reach 200.
Remember, the question is not what smart phones do but what do they replace wholly or partially. 146-156 are a good example of darkroom claptrap that we don't need with digital photos.

 

[russ_watters]

Psychometric chart
Ductulator
Pipe sizer
3d measurement (related to but separate from laser rangefinder)
Photo editor
Emergency beacon
'Ehem:
Telescope controller
Planetarium
Satellite finder/tracker
Tide chart
Eclipse tracker
Remote camera controller

 

[sophiecentaur]

Interossiter?

 

[Bystander]

Library; have to remove/reduce the count?

 

[donpacino]

Library; have to remove/reduce the count?

along with the spirit of this... has anyone mentioned that phones can and have replaced books to some extent

 

[donpacino]

In flight entertainment systems (airplanes)

 

[sophiecentaur]

Interossiter?

@OmCheeto: you are well SciFi - read.

 

[OmCheeto]

@OmCheeto: you are well SciFi - read.

Actually... no.
I had never heard of the "Interossiter" until this morning. But it piqued my curiosity, and I watched the movie.
I think someone needs to add destructive laser beams to a smartphone in order for it to be a proper device.

hmmm...

Oh good god.

[ref]

 

[tony873004]

As I updated my Android operating system today, the phone got quite warm. And it was quite cold out this Thanksgiving eve. I found myself clutching my phone to warm my hands.

 

[anorlunda]

Here is a consolidated and renumbered list based on all the earlier posts. The Count is now 180.

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/IR camera
    
48. TV Remote Control
49. Barcode scanner
50. Earthquake Early Warning Network Notification Device
51. Bank Teller
52. language 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
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 )
100. Borescope (needs USB camera $10 from ebay).
101. Gyroscope
102. Shopping device
103. Academic Conference.
     
104. Virtual Reality headset
105. Robot
106. Spreadsheet
107. Surveillance bug
108. Tracking device
109. sign placard by airport limo drivers looking for their arriving client.
     
110. conversational assistant as in talking to Siri or Alexa
     
111. Augmented Reallity headset or viewer.
112. Tricorder
113. thing locator with trackable RFID tiles
114. Underground power locator with Bluetooth headset ie you lose the connection when crossing over one
115. doorstop
116. throwing weapon multiple use
     
117. FFT spectrum analyzer
118. Signal generator
119. Internet connection speed tester
120. Touch screen aided ruler
121. Inclinometer
122. Color Detector
123. Color Generator
124. Tunable stroboscope
125. Data logger
126. Home automation controller
     
127. Music composer ala garage band.
     
128. beat box
     
129. Apartment buzzers
130. guitar
131. violin
132. drums,
133. synth .
     
134. News gatherer via video and audio for reporters( replaces a lot of hefty equipment )
     
135. balloon satellite
136. world clock
137. stopwatch
138. alarm
139. sleep aid (soothing sounds like ocean waves, light breeze...)
140. sleep analyzer
     
141. Remotely run Electric Trains, UAVs, etc.
142. Guitar Tuner
143. Guitar Chord Charts
     
144. Video Conferencing
     
145. Gaming
146. enlarger
147. trays
148. tongs
149. chemicals: developer, fixer, and water
150. negative developer canister device
151. negative album
152. boxes to hold un-albumed photos
153. photographic negative material (I believe we referred to is as "film")
154. photographic "print" material (special silver impregnated paper)
155. little red light for the darkroom (made obsolete. not sure where mine is at, but I did have one)
156. Anyone remember what that thing that screwed into the "take a photo" button was called?
157. Flashbulb
158. special effects lenses
159. color filters
160. air poofer + brush device
     
161. laser thermometer (I'm getting one of those!)
162. Psychometric chart
163. Ductulator
164. Pipe sizer
165. 3d measurement (related to but separate from laser rangefinder)
166. Photo editor
167. Emergency beacon
168. Telescope controller
169. Planetarium
170. Satellite finder/tracker
171. Tide chart
172. Eclipse tracker
173. Remote camera controller
     
174. Interocitor (We have tricorde, so why not?)
     
175. Library; have to remove/reduce the count?
     
176. Books
177. Darkroom (146-156 were darkroom equipment, but didn't mention the darkroom itself)
178. In flight entertainment systems (airplanes)
     
179. Hand warmer
180. Killer laser controller

Only 20 more needed to reach 200.
Remember, the question is not what smart phones do but what do they replace wholly or partially. 146-156 are a good example of darkroom claptrap that we don't need with digital photos.

 

[jerromyjon]

Only 20 more needed to reach 200.

Is 180 supposed to be Laser?

Oh good god.

[ref]

I also have:
181: coloring books (My wife said it and I think it's unique, you can color black and white pages )
182: walkie talkies
183: puzzle books

 

[anorlunda]

Is 180 supposed to be Laser?

Good catch. I edited in "180 Killer laser controller"

 

[berkeman]

Oh good god.

[ref]

Rhut-Rho! @Evo has a killer laser now? We are doomed. Remember what happened when she was using that chainsaw in the back of her pickup truck? That was not pretty...

 

[I like Serena]

Only 20 more needed to reach 200.
Remember, the question is not what smart phones do but what do they replace wholly or partially. 146-156 are a good example of darkroom claptrap that we don't need with digital photos.

Partial replacement of Star Trek communicators, tricorders, and universal translators?
Those are part of every day life... in Star Trek. ;)