Phones and MP3 Players as the Core Component in Future Appliances

AbstractIn the 1980s, power toolsets consisted of five or six power tools but were delivered with a single motor attachable to each of the tools. The tools themselves were motorless. At the time the rationale for this design was twofold: the motor was an expensive component and not replicating it saved money, and people did not need both their circular saw and their power drill at the same time. This approach has a long tradition and was also common, for example, with early electric kitchen appliances. Such systems have become uncommon. However, looking at current consumer electronics it seems that a similar trend might be emerging. This time the expensive and complex components are the user interface and the embedded processor. Hence, this component is shared among appliances.