To be fair, these are complicated mechanical devices, forced to process physical objects, not just data.
So why are we so much better at improvising than robots -- which are essentially mechanical devices controlled by computers?
The earth is full of inorganic raw materials to create mechanical devices and their energy source, historically fossil fuels, was in abundance.
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In an emerging field called digital manufacturing, 3D printers enable the production of physical mechanical devices, medical implants, jewelry, and even clothing.
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In contrast, other powerful religions often looked askance at new mechanical devices.
These are mechanical devices used to provide force in a straight line.
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"I spent my entire childhood building mechanical devices from Meccano and now we have the largest set in the world, " Mr Curtin said.
He has been experimenting with the idea of collecting signals straight from the brain's motor cortex and using them to direct mechanical devices such as artificial arms and even wheelchairs.
Compound fractures are time sensitive and need to be treated immediately with copious irrigation to thoroughly clean the site of injury, followed by stabilization of the fracture with special hardware or mechanical devices (rods or pins).
We've seen mechanical devices creep through the inside of intestines, huge mounds of dirt, and even through the San Francisco Bay, but now a British deep-diving remotely operated vehicle ( ROV) is getting set to probe the depths of Antarctica.
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The abacus is one of the first mechanical counting devices, an ancient ancestor of today's computers.
Huts 11 and 11A at the Buckinghamshire museum were the first to house the large electro-mechanical Bombe devices, which decrypted German military messages during World War II.
During the seven years the incidents occurred, in cases where de Souza did not prescribe the drugs herself, she ordered other doctors to change mechanical ventilation devices, according to authorities.
"This is a fundamentally new technology that allows us to control electronic devices directly using mechanical agitation, " Prof Wang added.
Total Equipment Coverage combines the benefits of Asurion's Wireless Protection Plan for lost, stolen, and damaged devices, and Verizon Wireless' Extended Warranty for mechanical or electrical defects after the manufacturer's warranty expires.
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One of Nektar's earliest hires was Adrian Smith, a mechanical engineer who had designed ink-jet printers for Hewlett-Packard and medical devices at venerable design firm IDEO.
They have long been employed in devices like mobile phones to filter electric signals (which can be done by converting electrical into mechanical energy and back again).
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