sprinkles
Well-known member
- MBTI
- xxxx
I was thinking of the irony that some times a low tech device has great benefits in certain applications. I've decided to list some of the more ironic ones that I can think of, let's also see what you guys come up with.
First of all, sound powered telephones. These are direct line telephones that require only an intact circuit and for the user to speak into it. The vibration of the speakers voice powers the telephone and allows the person on the other end to hear it. This is used in critical applications where people in different locations need to communicate and failure is not an option, as power can fail and batteries die.
Also, Hall effect switches and sensors. These are magnetic devices which are used in some kinds of keyboards and other sensors in critical applications where the switch must have a long life and not be prone to fail. Normal switches rely on physical contact, which can short out or become dirty and malfunction. A Hall effect sensor only requires proximity and uses permanent magnets which last indefinitely, for practical purposes. It is also easy to make waterproof, and since it doesn't use contact there is no contact bounce.
Good old vacuum tubes. Mostly replaced by solid state transistors in your everyday electronics, vacuum tubes are still used in larger and high powered projects such as particle accelerators and high powered radio equipment. Also interestingly, a typical microwave uses what is called a cavity magnetron, which is basically a glorified vacuum tube.
Electrical fuses. The high amperage failsafe. Circuit breakers are convenient because they are resetable but because they're mechanical, they can fail. Since a fuse is sacrificial and just completely melts it is much more reliable to break the line and protect equipment and people whenever there is a problem.
Triple beam balance scale. Used for reliably measuring mass, it requires no springs or electronics and the result is not relative to gravity. Still widely used for all sorts of sciencey things. Since it measures one mass in relation to a known mass rather than measuring against gravity, it will work just fine anywhere there is gravity. You would get the same readings on earth as you would on the moon, unlike with a standard weighing scale.
Micro film. Still used to archive blueprints for critical structures and devices, such as airliners. Made small to address storage concerns, but it is still a print and you can read it with a magnifying glass if you somehow don't have the machine, so you never ever have to worry about a digital format becoming outdated.
The abacus. Could come in handy one day, after the apocalypse or whatever.
Pencils and sticky notes. Where would we be without them?
First of all, sound powered telephones. These are direct line telephones that require only an intact circuit and for the user to speak into it. The vibration of the speakers voice powers the telephone and allows the person on the other end to hear it. This is used in critical applications where people in different locations need to communicate and failure is not an option, as power can fail and batteries die.
Also, Hall effect switches and sensors. These are magnetic devices which are used in some kinds of keyboards and other sensors in critical applications where the switch must have a long life and not be prone to fail. Normal switches rely on physical contact, which can short out or become dirty and malfunction. A Hall effect sensor only requires proximity and uses permanent magnets which last indefinitely, for practical purposes. It is also easy to make waterproof, and since it doesn't use contact there is no contact bounce.
Good old vacuum tubes. Mostly replaced by solid state transistors in your everyday electronics, vacuum tubes are still used in larger and high powered projects such as particle accelerators and high powered radio equipment. Also interestingly, a typical microwave uses what is called a cavity magnetron, which is basically a glorified vacuum tube.
Electrical fuses. The high amperage failsafe. Circuit breakers are convenient because they are resetable but because they're mechanical, they can fail. Since a fuse is sacrificial and just completely melts it is much more reliable to break the line and protect equipment and people whenever there is a problem.
Triple beam balance scale. Used for reliably measuring mass, it requires no springs or electronics and the result is not relative to gravity. Still widely used for all sorts of sciencey things. Since it measures one mass in relation to a known mass rather than measuring against gravity, it will work just fine anywhere there is gravity. You would get the same readings on earth as you would on the moon, unlike with a standard weighing scale.
Micro film. Still used to archive blueprints for critical structures and devices, such as airliners. Made small to address storage concerns, but it is still a print and you can read it with a magnifying glass if you somehow don't have the machine, so you never ever have to worry about a digital format becoming outdated.
The abacus. Could come in handy one day, after the apocalypse or whatever.
Pencils and sticky notes. Where would we be without them?
