What Do Smart Phones (Partially) Replace?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the various everyday objects that participants believe are partially replaced by smartphones. It includes a wide range of items from traditional tools and devices to social interactions, exploring the implications of smartphone technology on daily life.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that smartphones replace traditional phones, clocks, calendars, calculators, and various forms of media such as radios and cameras.
  • Others propose that smartphones can serve as substitutes for more specialized devices like thermal imagers, medical pagers, and even bank tellers.
  • There are mentions of smartphones replacing social interactions or human companions, raising questions about the impact on social behavior.
  • Some participants note that while smartphones can replace many devices, laptops may still be preferred for certain tasks due to their usability and larger screens.
  • Several participants engage in correcting and refining the numbering of items listed, indicating a collaborative but somewhat chaotic effort to compile a comprehensive list.
  • Additional items proposed include various scientific instruments, tools for navigation, and even unconventional uses like makeshift ignition sources.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the extent of replacement or the value of smartphones compared to other devices. Multiple competing views remain regarding the effectiveness and practicality of smartphones in replacing traditional objects.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects a variety of assumptions about the capabilities of smartphones and the subjective value of traditional devices. Some entries are repeated or misnumbered, indicating a lack of clarity in the list compilation process.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to individuals exploring the impact of technology on daily life, those interested in the evolution of devices, and participants in debates about technology's role in society.

  • #91
I like Serena said:
Partial replacement of Star Trek communicators, tricorders, and universal translators?
Those are part of every day live... in Star Trek. ;)

That's all very true, but all three are already on the list, including the tricorder.
 
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  • #92
I am pretty sure this is unique... the closest is 33. Address book.
184. Phone book
I can't remember the last time I used one but I still have one somewhere, just in case it isn't urgent enough to use my phone as a: 115. doorstop or 68. campfire thingy
 
  • #93
185. heart rate monitor
186. eeg/ecg monitor
187. glucose tester
 
  • #94
188. Wives. :H
 
  • #95
189. Miniature yule log.
anorlunda said:
Anyone remember what that thing that screwed into the "take a photo" button was called?
Are you thinking about a shutter release?
 
  • #96
Asymptotic said:
189. Miniature yule log.

Are you thinking about a shutter release?
Close enough. I was too lazy to google it.

I posted a picture of mine in post #73.

Mine was mechanical, so it might be more appropriately called a "cable release". [ref]
Googling "shutter release" indicates that the "mechanical" ones appear to have been supplanted by digital remote devices.
 
  • #97
OmCheeto said:
Close enough. I was too lazy to google it.

I posted a picture of mine in post #73.

Mine was mechanical, so it might be more appropriately called a "cable release". [ref]
Googling "shutter release" indicates that the "mechanical" ones appear to have been supplanted by digital remote devices.
That release looks identical to the one I had for my Canon AE-1. Went back to using the built-in timer after it turned out the cable release introduced enough 'shudder to the shutter' to effect sharpness at moderately slow shutter speeds. :)
 
  • #98
Here is a consolidated and renumbered list based on all the earlier posts. The Count is now 193, goal is 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 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. Camera shutter release
  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
  181. coloring books (My wife said it and I think it's unique, you can color black and white pages :smile:)
  182. walkie talkies
  183. puzzle books
  184. Phone book
  185. heart rate monitor
  186. eeg/ecg monitor
  187. glucose tester
  188. Wives [Should we say husbands too? ]
  189. Miniature yule log.
    I'm adding some new ones.
  190. Body armor (phone in pocket stops a bullet)
  191. Baby/pet sitter, shows you video, and let's you relay voice commands.
  192. Leave it behind in your car, becomes a locator if car is stolen.
  193. Sail racing tactician, advises optimum course to steer to the mark
Only 7 more needed to reach our goal of 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.
 
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  • #99
anorlunda said:
192. Leave it behind in your car, becomes a locator if car is stolen.
Not "if" but "when". Thieves now use Bluetooth pings to look for cars with laptops in them. If you leave a device in your car (phone or laptop or whatever) with Bluetooth active, it's only a matter of time. (At least here in Silicon Valley and the Bay Area that is unfortunately true now)
 
  • #100
berkeman said:
Not "if" but "when". Thieves now use Bluetooth pings to look for cars with laptops in them. If you leave a device in your car (phone or laptop or whatever) with Bluetooth active, it's only a matter of time. (At least here in Silicon Valley and the Bay Area that is unfortunately true now)

Thanks @berkeman , we can add: 194 bait for police bait cars.
 
  • #101
anorlunda said:
Thanks @berkeman , we can add: 194 bait for police bait cars.
Yes, I'm afraid so.
 
  • #102
Asymptotic said:
That release looks identical to the one I had for my Canon AE-1. Went back to using the built-in timer after it turned out the cable release introduced enough 'shudder to the shutter' to effect sharpness at moderately slow shutter speeds. :)
I have the A-1. Looking at it, I would have only needed it for exposures longer than 30 seconds. (I haven't used that camera since I got my first digital camera. It now only serves as a hoarder detector, and idle battery longevity tester.)

anorlunda said:
188. Wives [Should we say husbands too? ]
Fellow humans? I have photos of EVERYONE in group gatherings, ALL looking at their smartphones.

And along with fellow humans, I don't see:

195: pets [ref]

anorlunda said:
That's all very true, but all three are already on the list, including the tricorder.

nor

196: replicator [ref]

on the list.

berkeman said:
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...:woot:

Odd. I have no recollection of "chainsaws" and "Evo". All I remember is the "bubblewrap".
A quick pfoogle brings up 21 unique threads where "chainsaw" and "Evo" are mentioned:

A Page from Your Journal
Add Go to top button after the end of every post
And the best job in America is
Bye Bye, Evo
Evo's moving
I'm a homesteader/prepper ask me anything
I'm about to do something dangerous
I'm back
Im melting
It's here! Member Awards 2012!
Knock Knock Knock
Nail guns
Now I've done it :-(
per, scissors revisited
PFs sisterhood weakening
Scrubbing the middle of your back
Should Evo get a chainsaw?
Skateboard accident2
Smoking at the fillin' station
What Do Smart Phones (Partially) Replace?
What does the + next to my name mean?​

Not sure how I could have missed that.
hmmm...

would

197. braincells

be appropriate?

-------------
ps. Did you see that she's now into some ninja death plant hobby? Evocheveria, or something like that.
Freakin' spikes EVERYWHERE!

2017.11.24.evo.death.spiral.plant.png

Lasers and death spikes...
 

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  • #103
OmCheeto said:
Odd. I have no recollection of "chainsaws" and "Evo". All I remember is the "bubblewrap".
A quick pfoogle brings up 21 unique threads where "chainsaw" and "Evo" are mentioned:

A Page from Your Journal
Add Go to top button after the end of every post
And the best job in America is
Bye Bye, Evo
Evo's moving
I'm a homesteader/prepper ask me anything
I'm about to do something dangerous
I'm back
Im melting
It's here! Member Awards 2012!
Knock Knock Knock
Nail guns
Now I've done it :-(
per, scissors revisited
PFs sisterhood weakening
Scrubbing the middle of your back
Should Evo get a chainsaw?
Skateboard accident2
Smoking at the fillin' station
What Do Smart Phones (Partially) Replace?
What does the + next to my name mean?
Not sure how I could have missed that.
hmmm...
Yeah, from those thread titles, you can start to get an idea of why we should be worried if @Evo now has her hands on a killer laser...
 
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  • #104
Airline boarding pass.

You have books twice.
 
  • #105
Here is a consolidated and renumbered list based on all the earlier posts. The arbitrary count of 200 has been reached.
  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. Camera shutter release
  174. Interocitor (We have tricorde, so why not?)
  175. Library; have to remove/reduce the count?
  176. Darkroom (146-156 were darkroom equipment, but didn't mention the darkroom itself)
  177. In flight entertainment systems (airplanes)
  178. Hand warmer
  179. Killer laser controller
  180. coloring books (My wife said it and I think it's unique, you can color black and white pages :smile:)
  181. walkie talkies
  182. puzzle books
  183. Phone book
  184. heart rate monitor
  185. eeg/ecg monitor
  186. glucose tester
  187. Wives [Should we say husbands too? ]
  188. Miniature yule log.
    I'm adding some new ones.
  189. Body armor (phone in pocket stops a bullet)
  190. Baby/pet sitter, shows you video, and let's you relay voice commands.
  191. Leave it behind in your car, becomes a locator if car is stolen.
  192. Sail racing tactician, advises optimum course to steer to the mark
  193. Bait for police bait cars
  194. Pets
  195. replicatorr
  196. airline boarding pass
    new today
  197. Vibration meter
  198. Speedometer
  199. Vinyl record player RPM (place phone on rotating disk, detects periodic compass fluctuations)
  200. Non contact RPM Tachometer (Use proximity sensor or magnetic pickup)
We reached our arbitrary goal of 200. :partytime:
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.
 
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  • #106
anorlunda said:
...
We reached our arbitrary goal of 200. :partytime:
Yay!
Watching the list grow so rapidly, made me think that a simpler list would have been; "What can smartphones not replace?"
Food, water, home, toilet paper, and vehicles were the only things I could come up with.

Of course, someone already noticed one of those.

And although I don't think they'll make an edible smartphone in my lifetime, someone has made an edible case:
Edible Gummy iPhone Cases

Though, I don't think I'd eat a gummy bear that's been in my pocket for more than a few minutes.

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.

Just sitting in my living room, looking around, gives me more ideas:
along with #14 TV, which I haven't turned on in a couple of years, I almost never use my
201 stereo receiver
202 vhs player
203 cassette player
204 cd/dvd player
205 70's era sized speakers
 
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  • #107
OmCheeto said:
What can smartphones not replace?
common sense
 
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  • #108
That is quite a list. I'm sure it could grow longer and/or shorter.

So, 200 things that a smart-phone may replace. Is there any problem with listing 200 things that they may not replace? Just for fun? Here's one for the "not" list: a well secured, fire-resistant safe. There are some things one may not (or should not) put in a phone.
 
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  • #109
jmmccain said:
Is there any problem with listing 200 things that they may not replace?
Coffee
 
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  • #110
Do we need to remove #s 83 & 84? I didn't think this was a wish list -- we're looking for actual apps that already exist, right?
jerromyjon said:
I'd like:
83. Car starter/door remote
84. laser range finder
Surprisingly unavailable?
 
  • #111
Redbelly98 said:
we're looking for actual apps that already exist, right?
84. laser rangefinder is available: https://www.ryobitools.com/phoneworks/laser-distance-measure/
 
  • #112
Redbelly98 said:
Do we need to remove #s 83 & 84? I didn't think this was a wish list -- we're looking for actual apps that already exist, right?

You may be right. The policing I did on that list was very loose. I said no only to those items that were duplicates.
 
  • #113
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  • #114
I was wondering how many items would be on the list if we took into consideration how good smartphone is at doing these things, for example, I saw "spectrum analyzer" on the list, but I bet it's not nearly as capable as the cheapest spectrum analyzer. Yes, it has that function, but it's of no use if you can't reliably use it. Otherwise it's just for fun.
 
  • #115
GhostLoveScore said:
Otherwise it's just for fun.
Same as the scale... the reviews were terrible but in a pinch it would serve the purpose if accuracy wasn't the highest priority.
 
  • #117
GhostLoveScore said:
I was wondering how many items would be on the list if we took into consideration how good smartphone is at doing these things, for example, I saw "spectrum analyzer" on the list, but I bet it's not nearly as capable as the cheapest spectrum analyzer. Yes, it has that function, but it's of no use if you can't reliably use it. Otherwise it's just for fun.
Old post, but the thread popped back up; I've actually used a spectrum analyzer app a couple of times at work to identify target frequencies and locations for sound attenuation.
Spectrum.jpg
 

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  • #118
Here's a few rare ones (didn't see above):
1. Mosquito repeller
2. Dog repeller
3. Old away (repelling old people! ... :smile: with annoying noise; now why on Earth you want to do that? I have no idea ...)
4. Voice altering device
5. (This one is really cool!: ) CHARGER! (However note: for phones with OTG function only + you need OTG cable, together with your USB charging cable; works as USB charger, and/or with charge cable adaptors you can also charge iphones, ipods etc. + even old phones ...)

Other issue:
jerromyjon said:
https://phys.org/news/2018-02-add-on-smartphone-fully-microscope.html
206. Microscope
Cf. #60 in list earlier above

Edit: I just realized a few more
6. Surveillance camera (& remote controlled)
7. Siren (loud) [not just alarm / e.g. for home or personal protection outdoors]
8. Sports analyser (miles/vs/calories etc.)
9. Adult's magazine and adults video store ... :biggrin::nb)

So 205+9 = 214
[+ bag & space saver! ... because you don't need a bag to carry them ... :wink::smile: ⇒ 215 (?)]
 
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  • #119
So I'm not sure if these applications have been mentioned already in the thread, and they are new product ideas, but here you go:

  • Home ultrasound monitor/probe (with dongle) -- lots of applications in sports injury diagnosis and fun for new parents wanting to watch the little one in the womb...
  • Home Blood Tester (with dongle) -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_test
  • Home Fingertip NMR MRI (with dongle) -- To be able to do blood tests non-invasively...
 
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  • #120
berkeman said:
So I'm not sure if these applications have been mentioned already in the thread, and they are new product ideas,
Those medical apps could save people millions.

That blood test link has this interesting clause https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_test#Future_alternatives

It sounds clear that many or most future sensors aimed at consumer use would use the smart phone as the user interface (#57 on the list). For example, hearing aids became cheaper and more DIY when they started using smart phones plus bluetooth link to run a hearing test and then to tweak the hearing aids adjustments. Prior to that, it meant a visit to a hearing aid center to do those things.

My friend got a pacemaker. I told his wife to steal the pacemaker's remote and thus turn him into a slave for life. :-)
 
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