A Device is something that people created or adapted for a specific purpose. Most of us think of electronic or mechanical equipment when we hear the term. A device may also refer to a trick, method, or plan with a certain objective or aim, as in: “Writing to your local lawmaker or member of parliament is a popular device for expressing dissent.”
This article focuses on the meaning of the word in the context of mechanical or electronic equipment.
With the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT), the term ‘device’ has evolved to encompass a wide array of connected gadgets that communicate and interact with each other over the internet, from smart home appliances to sophisticated industrial sensors.
Device in computing
In the world of computing, a device is an item of hardware or equipment in a computer system that has computing functions.
According to Techopedia.com, a device in computing is any piece of hardware that performs one or more functions within a computer system. This means it can provide input, produce output, or do both. Essentially, any electronic component with computing capabilities that can run firmware or third-party software qualifies as a device.
Your computer speakers, disk drive, printer, microphone, modem, and mouse are examples of devices. All of them can be replaced or installed separately.
In computing, a device driver converts general commands into a language that a piece of equipment understands – it is, in effect, a translator.
Device vs. gadget
The two terms have a similar but not identical meaning. When we cannot remember the name of a piece of equipment, we use the terms gadget or gizmo.
We commonly use the term device, on the other hand, even if we know or remember the item’s proper name.
We only use gadget, unlike device, for small and innovative things. If you saw a giant pump, you would not refer to it as a gadget.
Terms consisting of 2+ words
The term commonly appears in the names of items, such as military equipment or weapons. The letters IED, for example, stand for Improvised Explosive Device; a bomb created and deployed in a non-traditional way. Roadside bombs that terrorists deploy are IEDs.
Medical devices
Any type of apparatus, implement, machine, implant, or instrument in a healthcare context is a medical device. We use this term for a wide range of products. Let’s look at a small list of some of them:
- Disposable gloves.
- Condoms.
- Thermometers.
- Needles and syringes.
- Bedpans.
- Pacemakers.
- Implants.
- Urinary catheters.
- Nebulizers.
- Masks.
- Instruments, equipment and materials that dentists use.
- Prostheses (false legs or arms).
- Defibrillators.
- Hospital beds.
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scanners,
- Ultrasound scanners.
The Word Health Organization has the following definition of the term in a medical or healthcare setting:
“Medical device means any instrument, apparatus, implement, machine, appliance, implant, reagent for in vitro use, software, material or other similar or related article, intended by the manufacturer to be used, alone or in combination.”
The emergence of wearable technology has expanded the definition of medical devices to include items like smartwatches and fitness trackers, which are capable of monitoring vital signs and physical activity to support health and wellness.
Types of devices
If we add another word to ‘device‘ we get a two-word compound phrase, such as ‘medical device.’
There are hundreds of compound phrases containing the word ‘device.’ Lets have a look at five commonly used ones:
Tracking Device
A small electronic tool used to determine the location of a person or object.
For example: “She attached a tracking device to her keys so she wouldn’t lose them again.”
Storage Device
Hardware capable of holding information, such as a hard drive or USB stick.
For example: “He saved the presentation on a storage device to ensure he had a backup for the meeting.”
Input Device
Any piece of computer hardware used to provide data and control signals to an information processing system.
For example: “She preferred using a graphic tablet as her input device when working on digital art.”
Assistive Device
A tool, software, or hardware to assist people with disabilities in performing daily activities.
For example: “The voice recognition software served as an assistive device for individuals unable to use a traditional keyboard.”
Security Device
Equipment or software designed to prevent unauthorized access to information or property.
For example: “They installed a security device to monitor the entrances and exits of the building.”