Tutespark - week 3

Ok... the week 3 task is to find at least 3 examples of digital devices that are not electronic. Preferably, communication devices.

Ok well... first we will have to define the key words - digital, device, electronic and communication.

Digital - adjective


1. of or pertaining to a digit or finger.
2. resembling a digit or finger.
3. manipulated with a finger or the fingertips: a digital switch.
4. displaying a readout in digital form: a digital speedometer.
5. having digits or digitlike parts.
6. of, pertaining to, or using data in the form of numerical digits.
7. Computers . involving or using numerical digits expressed in a scale of notation to represent discretely all variables occurring in a problem.
8. of, pertaining to, or using numerical calculations.
9. available in electronic form; readable and manipulable by computer.
Device - noun

1. a thing made for a particular purpose; an invention or contrivance, esp. a mechanical or electrical one.
Electronic - adjective


1. of or pertaining to electronics or to devices, circuits, or systems developed through electronics.
2. of or pertaining to electrons or to an electron.
4. of, pertaining to, or controlled by computers, or computer products and services.

Commmunication - noun

1. the act or process of communicating; fact of being communicated.
2. the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs.

sourced - http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ on 23.8.10

Ok... so if we put all of these together to form a definition of digital communication device we can assume that a this device is: a thing made for the particular purpose of imparting or intechanging thoughts, opinions or information that resembles a digit or finger, which can be manipulated by a human finger or by a computer is the information is in an electronic form.

Therefore digital devices that are not electronic or also known as analogue could include:

1 - an abacus - which has movable counters that are manually moved by a person's fingers, it communicates numbers and values and assists in making mathematical calculations.

2. an analogue clock - communicates time with numbers

3. smoke signals - are able to communicate a message over a large distance. Most of the time smoke signals are used to signal distress - like in Lord of the Rings, when Gandalf gets Pippin to lift the beacon of Gondor to send Rohan a distress message so they will come to Gondor's aid.

4. Morse code - is a code made up of long and short pulses or "dots and dashes." This code can be communicated by sound and light.
sourced - http://www.omniglot.com/writing/morsecode.htm