When is a gadget not a gadget?
It can be a fine line between a gadget and non-gadget, think of all the things we dont consider as being gadgets TVs, cars, cookers, heating systems. They all have enough electronics and micro chips to operate one of the Thunderbirds!!! Think of all the neat things you can do these days ie check your Sky bill through your TV, browse the web on your TV, see extra content through your TV, programme your heating and oven days in advance and thats not even mentioning the Tardis of techie stuff that awaits every time you open your car (remote locking, GPS, white line sensors etc).
On the other side of that equation you have equipment such as mobile phones and PCs, do we consider them to be gadgets any more???? Most of us use a computer every day so can they really be considered gadgets any more. Discounting iPhones and iTouch, can mobiles really be considered as gadgetry? Both computers and mobile phones have to be considered as equipment for the modern world rather than space age gizmos.
Is a gadget a gadget only if its new? or do they have a duration as a gadget? Does a gadget stop being one if a certain number of people have one?
Personally, I think that if your Mum or Gran has a certain item the geek factor is reduced and they can no longer be considered as true gadget. Combining loads of different things (think Apple iPhone) is only a temorary fix and making something smaller and adding a radio is the same!
Gadgets should be innovative and appeal to those of us who have grown up around computers (even if they were Sinclair Spectrums or Atari), no gimmicks or radio pens for us…