Gadget
A gadget is a device or an appliance that has a useful specific practical purpose and function but is often thought of as a novelty. Gadgets are invariably considered to be more unusually or cleverly designed than normal technology at the time of their invention. Gadgets are sometimes also referred to as gizmos. In some circles the distinction between a gadget and a gizmo is that a gizmo has moving parts, whereas a gadget need not have them.For example, a digital watch would be a gadget, while an analog watch would be a gizmo. Thus a gizmo is essentially a mechanical gadget.
History
The history of invention of gadgets is almost as old as humanity itself. But, the introduction of the word is relatively new. The etymology of the word gadget is disputed. Some say that the word gadget was “invented” when Gaget, Gauthier & Cie, the company behind the casting of the Statue of Liberty, made a small-scale version of the monument and named it after their firm.Other sources cite a derivation from sailors’ terminology; the French gâchette which has been applied to various pieces of a firing mechanism; the French gagée, a small tool or accessory; the French engager, to engage one thing with another; or even a diminutive of the Scottish engineering jargon gadge, a form of measuring device.The spring-clip used to hold the base of a vessel during glass-making is also known as a gadget.
Programmable gadgets
Most of the modern gadgets belong to this category. These gadgets are invariably based on a microprocessor and often have flash memory.They use embedded software which controls their functions. Such gadgets are found not only in the pockets of gadget freaks, but also in their cars and homes. Some examples of gadgets in this category are notebook computer, mobile phone, iPhone etc.
Application gadgets
Computer programs that provide services without needing an independent applications be launched for each one, instead run in an environment that manage multiple gadgets. Their are several implementations based on existing software development techniques; like JavaScript, form input, and various image formats.
see Google Gadgets, Microsoft Gadgets, Apple Widgets
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