Electromechanical describes devices or systems that combine electrical parts and mechanical parts working together. An electromechanical device uses electricity to create movement, or uses movement to create electricity.

Think of an electric fan: electricity flows through wires to a motor (the electrical part), which spins blades that push air around (the mechanical part). A doorbell is electromechanical too. When you press the button, electricity flows through a circuit and causes a small hammer to strike a chime, creating that familiar ding-dong sound.

Many inventions from the early 1900s through the 1970s were electromechanical marvels. Pinball machines used electricity to light up scoreboards and power bumpers, while mechanical flippers, springs, and rolling balls created the gameplay. Old typewriters became electromechanical when inventors added electric motors to move the typing mechanisms faster than human fingers could.

Today, many electromechanical devices have been replaced by purely electronic ones. Your parents might remember electromechanical alarm clocks with numbers that flipped over with tiny motors, or cassette players with spinning wheels and moving tape. But electromechanical devices haven't disappeared entirely. Escalators, automatic car windows, garage door openers, and 3D printers all still rely on electricity powering mechanical motion to get their work done.