The word smart started out as a verb from Old English smeortan "be painful," from W.Gmc. *smert- originally "to bite". This led in late O.E. to the adjective smeart "sharp, severe, stinging". In c.1300 smeart became smart meaning "quick, active, clever", probably from the notion of "cutting" wit with words, etc. The first mention of smart devices, "behaving as though guided by intelligence" (e.g. smart bomb) was made in 1972.
So from 1972 on
wards "things" started to become smart and this is how we got
smart phones and smartboards. The fact that smartphones are really smart can be
seen from the fact that NASA uses android smartphones to power an economical new line of
satellites called PhoneSats. And there is no way of knowing which object will
turn "smart" next! Smart cupboards? Smart glasses? Smart desks?
As a matter of fact, it turns out that smart desks already exist: NEW TECHNOLOGY PROMISES TO TRANSFORM CHILDREN’S SCHOOL DESKS INTO GIANT TABLET
Could we get some SMART CHILDREN next please? That would make teaching so much easier...
Thanks for the info, Avraham.
ReplyDeleteSmart students would help create smarter systems and smarter use of our hours.
- Judih
And who do you think operates all the smartphones if not these smart children...?
ReplyDeleteIt is well known that there's a strong correlation between the advertising behind a product and the product itself. The advertisers used a catchy and simple word (rather than clever and bright) that reflects their product - smart... - which is not always catchy and simple. However, these products have become products for the masses, which says a thing or two about the creative, imaginative, and smart minds that invented the Smartproducts.