For me it’s the notification light you used to find on older phones, was particularly good to know if your phone was charged without picking it up

  • Alex
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    2311 months ago

    I’m surprised I haven’t seen anyone mention IR transmitters in phones. Luckily, some phones are bringing them back (cough OnePlus Open cough)

    • @chiliedogg@lemmy.world
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      611 months ago

      IR blasters are definitely my most-missed feature.

      Having a widget to control all kinds of devices in my house without having to buy new devices or plug things into Google or Amazon was nice.

      And never heading to hunt for the remote anywhere was priceless.

    • @timetravel
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      411 months ago

      My first cell could use this as a wireless connection to my laptop as a hot spot, circa 2003. Great times. Laser Internet

    • @Jakdracula@lemmy.world
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      311 months ago

      Most traffic preemption devices intended for emergency traffic redirection use optical technology to beam infrared light from vehicles to static receivers mounted on traffic light poles.

      Essentially, the tech works by detecting a specific pattern of infrared light emitted by the Mobile Infrared Transmitter (MIRT) installed in a police car, fire truck, or ambulance when the MIRT is switched on. When the receiver detects the light, the traffic system then initiates a signal change as the emergency vehicle approaches an intersection, safely redirecting the traffic flow so that the emergency vehicle can pass through the intersection as if it were regular traffic and potentially avoid a collision.

      Use IR to change traffic signals.