Electronic vs. Electric
I just started reading the
September 2016 issue and the
Developing Perspectives column. I
expected it to deal more with the
definition of "electronics," but you
mostly speak of how to define an
enthusiast.
To me, electronics means a set
of electronic switches assembled
and organized to do a task. The level
of detail of the physics involved is
irrelevant.
Whether your electronic
switches are made of transistors,
computer chips, or vacuum tubes is
irrelevant. Whether you used a
soldering iron is irrelevant. How
many times you have built the same
project is irrelevant.
If a device contains electronic
switches, it is an electronic device. If
it uses electrical power, but the only
switch is the on/off switch, it is
electrical, not electronic.
For example, a typical electric
knife has just one switch. It can be
turned on and off. If you're lucky, you
might have a multi-speed knife, which
changes its speed when you
manually turn or slide a selector
switch, but this is also an electrical
device — not an electronic one.
If your knife contains a circuit
board and a keypad where you can
punch in the desired speed, then it is
probably an electronic knife.
This distinction especially bothers
me when people refer to electric
cigarettes as "electronic." There are
no electronic switches inside. The
only circuit is a simple heating
element and the only switch is a
simple airflow-activated on/off
switch.
Xenophon J. Garcia
Tempe, AZ
Good that you have time to catch
up on your reading. Thanks for the
comments. I agree with you on how
electric has somehow morphed into
electronic, at least in marketing
Continued on page 64
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