Multifunction devices: a bit of history


    Many-armed Kuan Yin ( thank you . Azovsky for help)

    Optimization of something - time, money, place, effort is in our essence. That is why mankind has invented a huge number of multi-functional devices.

    In 1891, Karl Elsener, the owner of a surgical equipment company, began work on the forerunner of the modern Swiss Army Knife, which he called the “Soldier Knife”. The main idea was to combine a pocket folding knife and a screwdriver, which became necessary for the Swiss soldier along with the adoption of the Swiss Army's new 1889 Schmidt-Rubin rifle, which required a screwdriver for disassembly. The first such knife had a wooden handle and was equipped with a blade, a screwdriver, a can opener and an awl. This knife was purchased by the Swiss army, but Elsener continued to improve and in 1896, after 5 years of hard work, he created a knife that had a blade on each side. A special spring mechanism held them, while the same spring supported both blades, which was an innovation at that time. Such a device has doubled the number of tools. Elsener, in addition to the second blade, added a corkscrew. The essence of this invention was to reduce the weight of the soldier's ammunition, so that additional ammunition or a grenade could be taken. During the war, such optimization helped more than one soldier.

    This is what a real Swiss IT knife looks like.

    Another example of multifunctionality is a cane with a “secret”. The "secret" of the cane (knife, rapier, flashlight, comb, flask, etc.) is located in the hollow space of the handle. The first secret flask was made in the 19th century by order of Prince Edward, whose mother (Queen Victoria) did not approve of her son’s addiction. Multifunctional canes also include a cane umbrella and a cane chair. The walking stick-chair is a telescopic walking stick equipped with a folding plastic seat on which you can relax during a walk.

    Now these kinds of tools can often be seen in spy films and souvenir shops.

    Food processors are another representative of modern multifunctional devices. For the first time, small kitchen appliances were used in winemaking to mix a wine blend. Food processors were widely recognized in the 70s of the XX century, after the spread of the idea of ​​the Frenchman of American descent Karl Sontheimer about the use of blenders in everyday life. According to another version, food processors go back to hand mills, meat grinders and mixers (known since 1919, when Troy Metal Products launched the first bulky and inconvenient device of this class). If we discard the predecessor devices, then the invention of universal food processors should be called the middle of the 60s of the XX century, and the inventor is Pierre Verdun, the founder of Robot Coupe.



    In the series “Doctor Who,” the protagonist used a sound screwdriver - a universal tool for influencing various mechanisms (from simple to cybernetic) through sound waves.

    In its very first appearances in the series, it had a rather modest set of functions, but over time, the screwdriver was improved and received many new features, such as detecting and blocking telepathic signals, intercepting teleporting signals, obtaining credit from an ATM, charging a battery, a medical scanner, calling resonance in concrete, restoring barbed wire, destroying mechanical devices, lighting candles, deactivating electronics, cutting ropes and other features.

    Apparently, the authors of the series did not much sweat over the invention of many devices, having awarded the screwdriver with truly amazing abilities.



    But the most striking (and real) example of a multifunctional device is a modern smartphone. He knows how to read letters and play music and show films, it can be used as a camera, video camera, compass, GPS navigator, radio, and if desired - as a payment terminal and radiation sensor. It’s a pity that she doesn’t know how to cut and cook dinner, but I think this will be fixed in the near future.

    Advantages and disadvantages of multifunction devices


    On the one hand, the main advantage of the MFP is obvious: there is no need to hold a large number of devices. But the flip side is the statement “the general is never better than the private”, which means that a specialized device is almost always better than the MFC. For example, a rare phone camera will give better pictures than an average digital camera, radios receive a signal even in the most remote wilderness, it’s better to watch movies on a large plasma TV with powerful speakers (or in a movie theater), and paying bills is still better and safer through bank payment terminals.

    But, if you do not pursue the ideal (or you only need to shoot food for Instagram), then the MFP may well cope with your task, although not as high quality and fast as a specialized device.

    Multifunctionality in the world of modern devices


    The main reason for the development of multifunctionality in modern devices - mobile phones, laptops, video cameras - is the fierce competition between manufacturers of these devices, which can successfully build their marketing campaigns on this.

    It doesn’t matter how and how many people use this or that functionality, their presence is always given out as a competitive advantage, and absence is a serious disadvantage. Although in the future it may turn out that no one takes advantage of this “advantage” .

    Scientific and technological progress also had a hand in the multifunctionality of the devices, because integrating a USB port or a radio somewhere cost a mere penny, and the marketing effect greatly outweighs the cost of the layout.

    Hybridization - a new round in the development of MFPs


    If before the devices had functional requirements, now the emphasis has shifted towards the form factor. If before computers were the size of a room, but they turned a blind eye to it, because the device could take square roots faster than other devices, now this is not enough, because the form factor (tablet, mini-tablet, reader, mobile phone, note) and the ability to quickly switch between them (removable docking stations, additional covers, tablet laptop). It is for this reason that the era of netbooks began and ended in just a few years - the netbooks were much worse than laptops in terms of functionality, but the form factor did not differ significantly.

    ASUS also keeps up with the times (and sometimes even pioneers), releasing transformer devices and Padfone- a smartphone running Android 4.0, which can be mounted inside a “tablet”, to which a docking station can also be connected (in addition, both docks increase the functionality and capacity of the battery).



    It is clear that not all transformers have a unique and convenient (for some tasks) form factor, but now is just the same good time for experiments, and, I think, in the near future we will be able to see completely unique MFPs.


    Multifunctional Wasserman

    Personally, I am pleased that with the advent of smartphones it became possible to put out a book, a mini-flashlight, a clock (even with a built-in compass), a player, a magazine, a voice recorder, a metro circuit, and a digital camera from a bag. In some cases, this of course does not replace a full-fledged device, but on the other hand, the convenience of the same online library with an infinite number of books compared to one book that you took in the morning in poor light is undeniable.

    And you?

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    In your opinion, what future awaits us?

    • 50% future for multifunction devices 57
    • 14% future for specialized devices 16
    • 35.9% future for transformers 41

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