Never Wonder Which Switch is For What Again
About time someone came up with The Yellow Light switch, a design concept that proposes to replace that boring array of physical wall switches with a touch-sensitive control panel.
The Yellow Light switch's approach to an old problem—which switch turns this or that light off?—is pretty straightforward. By displaying the location of the lights relative to each other, and turning each light icon into an on/off switch, it saves the user from repeatedly flipping switches until they find the right one. The icons also light up or not to reflect on-off states.
Even better, the use of icons would make The Yellow Light switch perfect for controlling everything in the room, not just the lights. Tap on that AC icon to cool the area down, or press the window symbol to flip the blinds open. By turning wall switches into a dynamic touch-sensitive interface, The Yellow Light has big potential. Strict parents could shut down their WoW-addicted child's computer remotely, for instance.
Did it really take this long for designers to take a page or two from Star Trek: The Next Generation? And why not make the panel detach from the wall and double as a tablet? Let's just hope designers Heo Jaesik & Lim Hojoon will seriously make a push to bring their concept to retail.
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Looks cool, but I have a few doubts...
- In a time where energy efficiency is king and all unneeded stand by lights are being switched off ever more, you would add a lit switch?
- I must be special, but personally I never forget which switch operates what...
- Strict parents that need a switch to keep their kid off WoW can hardly be considered strict parents in my opinion.
Looks cool, and it would be neat to have the blinds and AC and stuff on it, they should also make it a digital thermostat
Thats not a light switch it's the next gen ipod...
Interesting but it sounds like it would be expensive. It also needs more icons than just light bulbs as there are plenty of other devices that use a switch. In my house there are exhaust fans, wall plates, a garbage disposal and ceiling fans. Would these devices be interconnected so that you can see all switches in the house that are on or off.
Really it would have made more sense for this to be a cheap control panel for X10 home automation and/or other such product types.
I kinda like my switches the way they are... hey I flipped on the switch and my lights came on. In today's economy I imagine this may be a little bit cost prohibitive considering the cost of the switch new wiring and the fact you will probably need an electrician to install all of it.
Touch screen lighting control has been around for a long time now...
That could be done on an iphone or iPad or iBoard.
Also, to remotely shut-off a kids computer such as WOW... password it or remote lock his internet access through the router. Many routers even have TIME clocks to allow active use, etc.
How you gonna use it when the power goes down? a normal switch still works in that situation... fail.
How you gonna use it when the power goes down? a normal switch still works in that situation... fail.
and the lights and computers that this thing can control will?
How you gonna use it when the power goes down? a normal switch still works in that situation... fail.
LMAO
Why do you need to turn the lights off if the power is out?
How you gonna use it when the power goes down? a normal switch still works in that situation... fail.
For understanding how electricity works.... Epic Fail!
How you gonna use it when the power goes down? a normal switch still works in that situation... fail.
ummmm....no you fail.
How you gonna use it when the power goes down? a normal switch still works in that situation... fail.
You're not an engineer I hope.
This is a really cool idea and I think it could be applied for other household utilities as well.
LMFAO @ Fiddle_sticks... haha that made my day...
Hope it doesn't run Windows... Otherwise you might want to keep some candles handy. "I can't turn on the lights, my light switch is BSOD'ing during bootup!!"
I think some people would miss physical switches. Being able to turn a corner and find a physical switch is easier then turning a corner and having to look at a touch panel. Other then that, it looks pretty cool.
LOL, they've made switches with LED in them for decades (at least in Taiwan and Japan). The LED will lit up when light is off and off when the light is on. That way, you can tell which light is on and also find the switch at night. The number of switches also corresponds to the number of lights in the room.
Hope it doesn't run Windows... Otherwise you might want to keep some candles handy. "I can't turn on the lights, my light switch is BSOD'ing during bootup!!"
Hope it doesn't run on Mac OSX... Otherwise it might be a real pain in the a$$ if you wanted to change around some light fixtures.. heck even the bulbs..
How you gonna use it when the power goes down? a normal switch still works in that situation... fail.
What a genius.
Strict parents could shut down their WoW-addicted child's computer remotely, for instance.
Oh Noes!!! Not their WoWs!
I'm giving you a +1 because I'm pretty sure you were pulling a rather subtle and clever prank... At least I hope you were. :-D
Same here, does Tom's have a post of the week award? This one gets my vote.
Man...misleading News Topic again. I was hoping for a clear explaination or how to diffrentiate of an off switch for Nagzilla...err I mean wife. You know...women...they turn off and on,b*tchy or slutty,like a switch.
Friends of mine have something similar at the office where they work. Touch screen controls lighting, heating and cooling, and audio & video equipment. Very cool!
The light switch for my front porch has a simple neon bulb as an indicator that the light is on and is probably well over 30 years old. But...
"Strict parents could shut down their WoW-addicted child's computer remotely, for instance."
EPIC WIN!
They stole that from Star Trek.
How you gonna use it when the power goes down? a normal switch still works in that situation... fail.
Congratz, you win the "EPIC FAIL" award for March 2010!
Heaven forbid people actually use their brains and LEARN what switch turns what on and off...
"Did it really take this long for designers to take a page or two from Star Trek: The Next Generation?"
As I recall, they only had maps on walls. Lights were always turned on and off via voice control.
"Computer, dim the lights"
The only time I have that trouble is when the lights are off and I can't see the switches...but at least I can feel for them.
...oh...and that one light switch that I finally got mad and ripped the wires out to track where it went...surprise surprise, someone installed a light switch that didn't actually lead to anything. Go figure.
How you gonna use it when the power goes down? a normal switch still works in that situation... fail.
ROFL- Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
I needed a good laugh, thanks.