November 10, 2009

Hardware Integration Analogy

Here are some examples of hardware integration styles. Can you find the similar styles in "system integration"?
1. Swiss army knife, leatherman (thanks to Steve), and other N-in-1 tools
2. Universal remote
3. Constructicons/Devastator
4. Lego
5. Converter/adaptor, for power plugs, A/V cables, etc.
6. Screwdriver with replacable heads
7. USB
8. iPhone

Do you have other good hardware integration examples?

5 comments:

doomsberry said...

internet refrigerator

Michael Morgan said...

For some reason, this entry reminds me of those late night infomercials, where you see some kitchen product that can do 10 different things - "it slices, it dices, it chops, it blends!" actually, the analogy is quite apt, as it relates nicely to hardware integration.

peter said...

The swiss army knife example reminds me of UI-level integration with no interoperability between components. A swiss army knife puts a knife blade and a screwdriver in the same package, but you can't use them at the same time. Nice analogy.

Steve Reynolds said...

The Leatherman is another good example. Like the swiss army knife, multiple tools are available, but cannot be used at the same time. It is the epitome of the phrase, "Jack of all trades, master of none."

doomsberry said...

This is an advertisement that ran over the internet , but if this comes true I dont think there will be any good example of Hardware integration ever to be found , check this out and njoy
http://www.pomegranatephone.com/
cheers !!