Category: New Technologies

It is said that everything old is new again. But it is also said that the pace of each new piece of technology marching into obsolescence is fast approaching the speeding bullet. By the time a new gadget hits the market, its makers are already shut-away in a tech lab somewhere working on the next generation or iteration or replacement as the case may be. Now, after more than 100 years, there’s a new generation of Swiss Army Knives. The “Knife” is not only USB connected, it’s un-hackably connected such that a team of hackers were dared to work their magic and found they could not.

Once well liked for it’s assortment of tools that include, tweezers, scissors, fish scaler, corkscrew, knives and screwdrivers – though not every kind of screwdriver, the Swiss Army Knife has moved into the digital age in a big way. After all, opportunities for fish scaling tend to be few. Several versions have USB drives and the latest versions have the secure USB and Bluetooth connectivity. But wait, there’s more. It also has a laser pointer in a line of “knives” intended for presentations. In recognition that knives can’t go on carry-on luggage, the USB device is detachable.

While there are likely to be all sorts of activities inspired by a knife, who among us knew that the Swiss Army Knife could also inspire a cutting edge fashion line. There are jackets, vests, blazers and swimwear, all designed for those who love the “knife.” As it turns out the term Swiss Army Knife is thought to have originated with US soldiers who could not pronounce its name in German. Over the years there have been numerous variations with one making the Guinness Book of World Records. One built in 2006 is called the Giant and it is nine inches wide.