Comments on: The evolution of the On/Off power switch symbol http://designblog.nzeldes.com/2008/05/the-evolution-of-the-onoff-power-switch-symbol/ Nathan Zeldes blogs on everyday product design Thu, 21 Aug 2008 02:08:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Gilbert Renaut http://designblog.nzeldes.com/2008/05/the-evolution-of-the-onoff-power-switch-symbol/#comment-791 Gilbert Renaut Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:35:37 +0000 http://designblog.nzeldes.com/2008/05/the-evolution-of-the-onoff-power-switch-symbol/#comment-791 There's a place in England that's called "Hill Hill Hill" in three different languages, but I can't remember what it is. Thanks for this, I am setting up a new desktop, and one speaker said don't plug this in with the power switch on, and I didn't know which was on. There’s a place in England that’s called “Hill Hill Hill” in three different languages, but I can’t remember what it is. Thanks for this, I am setting up a new desktop, and one speaker said don’t plug this in with the power switch on, and I didn’t know which was on.

]]> By: Nathan Zeldes http://designblog.nzeldes.com/2008/05/the-evolution-of-the-onoff-power-switch-symbol/#comment-659 Nathan Zeldes Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:39:56 +0000 http://designblog.nzeldes.com/2008/05/the-evolution-of-the-onoff-power-switch-symbol/#comment-659 '1' depressed on the rocker switch meant "on", John. ‘1′ depressed on the rocker switch meant “on”, John.

]]> By: john f hubert http://designblog.nzeldes.com/2008/05/the-evolution-of-the-onoff-power-switch-symbol/#comment-658 john f hubert Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:06:55 +0000 http://designblog.nzeldes.com/2008/05/the-evolution-of-the-onoff-power-switch-symbol/#comment-658 I am a dummy. Is '1' depressed on the rocker switch on or off? I am a dummy. Is ‘1′ depressed on the rocker switch on or off?

]]> By: Peter-John Taylor http://designblog.nzeldes.com/2008/05/the-evolution-of-the-onoff-power-switch-symbol/#comment-531 Peter-John Taylor Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:55:58 +0000 http://designblog.nzeldes.com/2008/05/the-evolution-of-the-onoff-power-switch-symbol/#comment-531 Excellent, informative and timely post Nathan! We'd be very interested to know your thoughts on the matter of poor power switch design and function in general and especially what you think about "Bad design on a UPS" posted by Saaed at http://onproductmanagement.wordpress.com/category/business-topics/product-management/ He writes "Last year, I got my hands on a pretty good UPS for my home computer network. It’s from APC. The model # is the XS1200. It’s a good UPS [which] can take 8 devices plugged into it. Six are managed, two are surge protected only. I’ve got all my critical devices plugged into it including my desktop computer, monitor, cable modem, router, some kind of phone/cable switching device (I get my home phone service through my cable provider), and a couple of other things. Now, this is a great device except for one fatal flaw. The round circle on the front is the on/off switch for the UPS. It’s also a very sensitive switch. It doesn’t take more than the soft fingers of a 2 year old child to turn it off. Yes, to turn the whole darn UPS and all 8 devices connected to it off! … I’m sure you can picture what has happened more than once.” See APC's reply at: http://www.apc-forums.com/thread.jspa?messageID=8068&tstart=0 Excellent, informative and timely post Nathan!

We’d be very interested to know your thoughts on the matter of poor power switch design and function in general and especially what you think about “Bad design on a UPS” posted by Saaed at
http://onproductmanagement.wordpress.com/category/business-topics/product-management/

He writes “Last year, I got my hands on a pretty good UPS for my home computer network. It’s from APC. The model # is the XS1200. It’s a good UPS [which] can take 8 devices plugged into it. Six are managed, two are surge protected only. I’ve got all my critical devices plugged into it including my desktop computer, monitor, cable modem, router, some kind of phone/cable switching device (I get my home phone service through my cable provider), and a couple of other things.

Now, this is a great device except for one fatal flaw. The round circle on the front is the on/off switch for the UPS. It’s also a very sensitive switch. It doesn’t take more than the soft fingers of a 2 year old child to turn it off. Yes, to turn the whole darn UPS and all 8 devices connected to it off! … I’m sure you can picture what has happened more than once.”

See APC’s reply at:
http://www.apc-forums.com/thread.jspa?messageID=8068&tstart=0

]]> By: Arol http://designblog.nzeldes.com/2008/05/the-evolution-of-the-onoff-power-switch-symbol/#comment-401 Arol Wed, 02 Jul 2008 05:29:53 +0000 http://designblog.nzeldes.com/2008/05/the-evolution-of-the-onoff-power-switch-symbol/#comment-401 I hope this help us to understand. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_symbol I hope this help us to understand.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_symbol

]]> By: Robert http://designblog.nzeldes.com/2008/05/the-evolution-of-the-onoff-power-switch-symbol/#comment-377 Robert Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:01:09 +0000 http://designblog.nzeldes.com/2008/05/the-evolution-of-the-onoff-power-switch-symbol/#comment-377 Here is an explanation from IEC and ISO. Related to the 0 with a broken ring and a 1 through it. It is soft off. >> For use on a power switch or button if the off state is soft-off, is variable, is not known, or the distinction from hard-off is not important. Also for use with a power indicator, or as the icon for the power control panel. >> Here is an explanation from IEC and ISO.

Related to the 0 with a broken ring and a 1 through it. It is soft off.
>>
For use on a power switch or button if the off state is soft-off, is variable, is not
known, or the distinction from hard-off is not important. Also for use with a
power indicator, or as the icon for the power control panel.
>>

]]> By: Jeff http://designblog.nzeldes.com/2008/05/the-evolution-of-the-onoff-power-switch-symbol/#comment-354 Jeff Sun, 15 Jun 2008 03:42:06 +0000 http://designblog.nzeldes.com/2008/05/the-evolution-of-the-onoff-power-switch-symbol/#comment-354 I used to think the 1 and the 0 symbols were retarded because nowhere are you told what either one meant. Now that i know that the 1 is a 1 and not just a line ,its not so retarded after all. Thank you for setting me straight on these alien symbols. I used to think the 1 and the 0 symbols were retarded because nowhere are you told what either one meant. Now that i know that the 1 is a 1 and not just a line ,its not so retarded after all.
Thank you for setting me straight on these alien symbols.

]]> By: Nick http://designblog.nzeldes.com/2008/05/the-evolution-of-the-onoff-power-switch-symbol/#comment-319 Nick Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:42:26 +0000 http://designblog.nzeldes.com/2008/05/the-evolution-of-the-onoff-power-switch-symbol/#comment-319 i believe the bastardized version of the on off switch actually is also a reset button. So rather than make another symbol for reset the decided to go with on /onoff i think it would make more sense to put on/onoff/off. i believe the bastardized version of the on off switch actually is also a reset button. So rather than make another symbol for reset the decided to go with on /onoff i think it would make more sense to put on/onoff/off.

]]> By: What does the on/off glyph represent? « Useology http://designblog.nzeldes.com/2008/05/the-evolution-of-the-onoff-power-switch-symbol/#comment-194 What does the on/off glyph represent? « Useology Thu, 08 May 2008 17:21:02 +0000 http://designblog.nzeldes.com/2008/05/the-evolution-of-the-onoff-power-switch-symbol/#comment-194 [...] May 8, 2008 Nathan Zeldes has a very cool article on the history of the On/Off power switch glyph. [...] […] May 8, 2008 Nathan Zeldes has a very cool article on the history of the On/Off power switch glyph. […]

]]> By: Dominic Tramontana http://designblog.nzeldes.com/2008/05/the-evolution-of-the-onoff-power-switch-symbol/#comment-187 Dominic Tramontana Thu, 08 May 2008 01:38:23 +0000 http://designblog.nzeldes.com/2008/05/the-evolution-of-the-onoff-power-switch-symbol/#comment-187 Awesome post, Nathan! Awesome post, Nathan!

]]>