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The term gizmo was popularized by the US Navy during the W.W.II. It's exact origin is unclear although it may have come from the common Arabic phrase shu-ismo which has a similar meaning to the catch all phrases "what-you-ma-call-it" or a "thing-a-ma-jig".

Another word that seems to be on equal footing with gizmo is gadget. It's origins are also uncertain but gadget has been part of the language for nearly one hundred years. Turn of the century sailors used gadget which is thought to be a variation of the now obsolete Scottish word gadge to describe a type of measuring tool.

The purpose of some gizmos is that of an art form in which it's function and inventiveness serves no purpose other than to amuses and delight the observer. But, what really defines a gizmo is also it's most important trait which is found in it's clever design.

Just as a painting is comprised of elements of paint color, gizmos are also combinations of elements such as springs and gears or other mechanical and electrical components. Also, like a painting which uses a particular placement of it's elements to achieve a desired result, it is the order in which a gizmo's elements are coupled that allow it to process input power through a particular sequence and produce a unique and distinctive flavor of inventive ingenuity.

Now, as we enter the digital age, electronic gates and switches are replacing the mechanical elements used in many gizmos and the the input power is more likely to be from an electron force. With these advancements comes a growing trend to also consider electronic devices as gizmos. As gizmos continue to evolve and incorporate the modern sciences into their functions a new branch of technology has emerged that is called Gizmology.

Talented visionaries design futuristic concepts around space-age materials, electronics and manufacturing processes. These design concepts may develop into a consumer product such as the Segway HT (Human Transporter). But, the fickle public does not always turn their clocks ahead far enough to embrace these designs of tomorrow.

• Segway HT - Ahead of it's time?
  • It would be premature to call the most talked about scooter in the history of humankind a huge bust. But the Segway has always been ahead of its time....
    
    

• Bombardier EMBRIO Concept
  • The Bombardier EMBRIO Advanced Concept vehicle is a one-wheeled recreational and commuting vehicle that promises a whole new experience on the road. Aimed at the 18 to 45 age group, this advanced concept prefigures the kind of user-friendly, minimalist vehicles we might be seeing - and using - on our urban, suburban and country roads in the year 2025.

The Gizmological Sciences are comprised of eight areas of practice or fields of study.

Applied Gizmology is traditionally the best known field of inventing. This type of device is usually designed with the consuming public in mind and may incorporates a number of mechanical and electronic components. Often, they are a merger of new technologies. Many though are simple in design but have the mass appeal of Rubik's cube from the 70's. Most non-patented devices, gadgets and gizmos would be categorized in this field.

Mechanical Gizmology is the field of gizmology encompassing all inventions that are predominantly of a mechanical nature in their operation. Devices with gears, springs or other moving parts would be included in this field.

• Stihl 4-Mix Engine
  • A two-stroke engine but with overhead valves and it produces five percent more horsepower and seventeen percent more torque than a comparable two-stroke.

Electro Gizmology is the field of gizmology which includes inventions that are predominantly of an electrical or electronic nature. These include computerized inventions, computer chips and electronic gadgets such as digital cameras and hand held computing devices.

• Spontaneous Flow Heat Pump
  • "Paces" is a new high performance electronic process. Not a traditional heat pump fitted with some electronic gadgets to improve its output, but a truly revolutionary process totally unused up to now. There are no moving parts, not even a moving fluid in it. "Paces" is an electronic process because the pump's fundamental element uses, for its development, micro-electronic techniques.

Inventions that use both electrical and mechanical components in their operation would be in the field of Electro-mechanical Gizmology. This type of electro-mechanical device could be a computer operated or electronicaly controled mechanical aparatus such as robotic device or an electronicaly operated valve.

• REGEN MP3 YO-YO
  • Enjoy hours of endless entertainment yo-yoing and listening to music everywhere you go - and never run out of batteries again! Introducing REGEN: A yo-yo/MP3 player complete with wireless headset and docking station.

Industrial gizmos are devices that are often made up of mechanical, electrical and micro components. Typically designed for industrial applications which include manufacturing machinery and heavy equipment, oilfield exploration, deep sea exploration. Industrial gizmology is the gadgets and mechanisims that help operate and control these machines and many others.

• Gyroscopic and GPS controlled Dozer Blade
  • A method and apparatus for providing for real time automated control of the position of a blade on an earth-moving machine. The method includes providing a geography altering machine, including a blade and a computer, the computer having stored therein a reference line and a three dimensional computer model of a desired topography, providing a user defined offset relative to the reference line, determining a blade position in local coordinates, converting the local coordinates to reference line coordinates, utilizing the reference line coordinates and the user defined offset to calculate blade movement commands, and moving the blade in a direction required by the blade movement commands.

The focal point of this type of invention is often a study of Newtons laws of motion. The functions of this type of machine are meant to capture the observers attention with it's fascinating combinations of mechanisims and machine elements. Essentially, this is mechanical art and it's creators are known as machine artists.

• Ralfonso
  • Reknown designer of kinetic sculptures and fine art photographer
    
    
• Arthur Ganson
  • Noted machine artist and creator kinetic scuptures
    
    
• Cabaret Mechanical Theater
  • A collection of contemporary automata, which is a kind of mechanical sculpture. Nearly all of the work in the theatre is humourous
    
    

This field includes any device or invention used to assist or work with life forms. Examples of Bio Gizmology include heart valves, artificial joints, hearing aids and most recently, the artificial eye. Future developments are likley to include the Plastic Muscle for use in prosthetic devices and artificial limbs.

• Implantable Miniature Telescope
  • The IMT is a micro-sized precision telescopic device is implanted in the eye and provides improved central vision
    
    
• Remote-Control Electrostimulation Capsule
  • The first video-equipped ingestible capsule capable of being piloted is half the size of a grape and has electrodes on its outer surface that deliver a series of 5-milliamp jolts whenever physicians press a remote control. The charge triggers a small muscle spasm in the intestine, which nudges the capsule forward or backward
    
    
• Plastic Muscle
  • This page containing information on a conceptual plastic muscle is under construction
    
    

Micro Gizmology can include any very small device but is now predominated by the emerging field of nano technology and MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical-systems).

• MEMS Motor Theory
  • The basic MEMS motor consists of a gear and an actuator. In this design, the actuator is a linear thermal actuator, also called a "heatuator". The linear actuator has some type of hook, pawl, or shuttle at the displaced end, which is intended to mesh with the gear, and turn it as the actuator bends.
    
    
• MEMS and Nanotechnology Clearinghouse
  • Extensive information service for the MEMS development community
    
    

The International Institute of Gizmology, The Technology of Gizmos, Inventorium, Certified Gizmologist, Diploma in Gizmology, Bachelor of Gizmology, Master of Gizmology, Bachelor of Applied Gizmology, Master of Applied Gizmology, Philosopher of Gizmology, Dip. Giz, BA. Giz., MA. Giz, Ph.G and other marks on this site are either registered trademarks or trademarks of the Inventor's Standards Bureau Inc.
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