Monday 2 June 2014

[Week 12] Why we love gadgets

Why we love gadgets

Gadgets used to be called little tiny things often unsuitable. Several years ago gadgets were pens, flashlights, key chains and other items. Gadgets tend to be used by companies or institutions for promotion and advertising.
Now let us try to look through the prism of the present times.
Let’s google what now gadgets mean:


Let's look again. We see phones, ipods, tablets, watches, cameras etc. But now everybody uses them what is more important, we use them every day. If everybody uses them can we still call them gadgets? 
Gadgets used to be unique and they didn’t have many functions. Now these are mostly mainstream products.
They are electronic but still small. 
What makes them unique and allows you to talk about them as gadgets?

We see that gadgets have a new definition. Let's go back in time and see some great gadgets from the past:


Nintendo Game Boy
Game Boy had sold over 32 million units. Game Boy Color have sold 118.69 million units worldwide. Games like Mario and Pokemon Are the most recognizable in the world. 

http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/scale_small/0/7465/942953-database_hardware_gameboy01.jpg


Tamagotchi 
http://znanydobryblog.blox.pl/resource/tamagotchi1.jpeg
keychain-sized  virtual pet  simulation game. Who hasn't had a tamagotchi? You took care of a virtual pet.The game was extremely popular 76 million units were sold. 

The Nokia 3310
The 3310 was known for having many features that were rare for the time. We can laugh but it first had a calculator, a stopwatch and a reminder function!. Do you remember games like Snake II, Pairs II Space Impact and Bantumi?  This phone was so good that now the internet creates memes about it: 

http://www.katalog-telefonow-komorkowych.pl/files/mobily/st1/62/800x600_pl_PL/1330685050-nokia-3310-81.jpg

http://www.quickmeme.com/img/f6/f6e80bc086b4106ec6df57dce1ee4165108abbfc5ed48a2f6515fdb96ff70258.jpg




The Motorola RAZR
http://cdn2.gsmarena.com/vv/pics/motorola/mov3_00.jpg

Few years Motorola showed was the phone that everyone wanted to have. Its futuristic appearance was one of its most impressive features. The flip phone, just half an inch wide, was thin enough to fit in a back pocket.


Now let's compare these few products with new gadgets: 

Oculus Rift

The operation of these glasses is relatively simple. The device has two displays,  The glasses also hav a spatial orientation system. data sent from the sensor goes to the computer, where the image is adjusted  o the position of our head. The image goes back to glasses. 

http://gry.gadzetomania.pl/2013/07/16/oculus-rift-wirtualna-rzeczywistosc-wreszcie-zachwyca-czekalismy-na-to-latami



Lytro
http://lastgadgetstanding.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/lytro_Camera.jpg
Lytro is a pocket sized camera, capable of refocusing images after being taken. 
Let's watch a trailer where you can check how cool this camera is. Photography really becomes alive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rhw9YwgNHC4&list=UUAj08yTpXgDiTAFz0xOjoMw
Still images viewed from multiple perspectives gives us a completely different sense of space and atmosphere of the picture. 

1) What is your favorite gadget? 
2) Do you think gadgets should be less mainstream and more unique?

3) If you could build in the future a futuristic gadget, what would it be for? 

8 comments:

  1. 1) What is your favorite gadget?
    Canon.


    A camera ;)
    2) Do you think gadgets should be less mainstream and more unique?
    No. Being more unique means expensive repairs. I don't want that.
    3) If you could build in the future a futuristic gadget, what would it be for?
    More advanced organizer. Connected with everything.

    ReplyDelete
  2. @armandstanczak smartphones are great organizer. You can connect to any cloud and store your contacts, calendar or any other data.

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  3. Omg, Tamagotchi! I've totally forgotten about it..It was such a fun in the past. Thanks for bringing it back:D

    As for my favourite gadges I would say..hm…I think Ihone5s. It is so useful. It has great camera, I can listen to my music, talk with my fienrd and make calls. I aslo like to try so new apps. But it discharges pretty quickly…I don't think that gadgets should be less mainstream, I agree with @armand on this...

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  4. mobile phones have always dominated the gadgets market :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. The only gadgets I use are my Iphone and my Canon camera. I don’t need anything else, but if I have lots of money I could buy Lytro because it’s seems to be really cool.
    I think gadgets should be unique. However, nowadays it’s hard to buy something extraordinary in reasonable price. I guess, these days old and vintage gadgets are unique. But that’s only my suspicions.
    My little dream is to build an invisibility cloak ;)

    ReplyDelete
  6. 1) What is your favorite gadget?
    The one I can think of right now, Oculus Rift. I remember that there are armbands as many devices controller, but i don't remember the name right now.

    2) Do you think gadgets should be less mainstream and more unique?
    Not really, if something is good then it should be used by everyone.

    3) If you could build in the future a futuristic gadget, what would it be for?
    Time travel... but more seriously a controller which allows to control things with your mind.

    ReplyDelete
  7. 1. My favourite gadget that I own is probably iPod Touch 5G, because it's multifunctional.
    2. Agree with armand. You can make your device more unique by configuring settings to your needs. Some people are also handling the matter by placing stickers on their devices.
    3. A long-life battery smartphone.

    ReplyDelete
  8. 1) What is your favorite gadget?
    I think it would be smartphone. People have everything in it.
    2) Do you think gadgets should be less mainstream and more unique?
    People like to have unique things. Design can be less mainstream but interior
    shouldnt otherwise it would be too expensive.
    3) If you could build in the future a futuristic gadget, what would it be for?
    I think it would be more convenient phone like in watch.
    Or mayby autopilot in car?

    ReplyDelete