Slashdot Mirror
The Top Ten Off Switches
Dan Jimbokla submitted a story that normally i would pass over, but I actually oddly enjoyed it. "CNET.co.uk has a truly funny and read-worthy article up about the top ten off switches. One of my favorite switches from the piece is #4 — The illuminated toggle switch: "This switch isn't designed for high-drain uses, typically it can only provide a maximum of 20 amps at 12 volts. That will make it suitable for a number of exciting uses though, and what it lacks in power handling, it makes up for in practicality. This switch will illuminate when the device it controls is turned on, and go off when the device is deactivated. This is logical and practical, and that has earned this switch a place in our hearts. What's more, it's far from expensive and there are even a choice of colors.""
Toggle switches rule period. Batman used toggle switches in the batmobile. Fighter pilots flick toggle switches in the movies before they blow up bad guys. The Millenium Falcon probably had a couple hundred thousand toggle switches. Cool electric guitars? They've got a toggle switch. When I built my first model rocket launcher - I think it had 3 toggle switches. A good solid 'click' of the old toggle is just the thing - all other switches pale in comparison. Even the big red button.
It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
Can't believe they forgot IBM's big red switch.
Mouse powered Chips, Open source Processors and Lego
Apparently I threw the off switch on your attempt. Or did I throw the on switch to your failure? Don't give up though skippy - you'll get there one day.
It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
This is one of those articles that you think 'Why isn't there more of these!? It's great!' but then remember that if there were more, they'd quickly become old-hat.
Kudos to them for doing it right... #7 was sure a surprise.
"If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you." - DM
My god, that must be the dorkiest list in the world, ever.
Love it!
Usually that's a lead-in to some bullshit dating article...too bad toggle switches don't apply in that field!
That could also be dangerous, as many slashdotters would begin to be able to understand the opposite sex.
If so, the vacuum relay. Can switch large amounts of power and comes in a relatively small package. These are very fast as well. High power radio transmitting systems use them
Also remember to wire your emergency 'off' switches as normally closed, so if the switch fails the equipment will stop. Nothing worse that going to switch off a 30HP motor that your tie is stuck in and the damn switch isn't working.
try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
I prefer to think of them as "on" switches. Err, except the ones which actually are off-only. Obviously.
No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
Given that the article appears to be already slashdotted, it appears this website is really the biggest, baddest off switch around.
An even more useful switch is one which lights up when the device it is controlling is off, and goes dark when it is on. But the #1 switch should be the Frankenstein-style knife switch. Nothing says fun like exposed very-high-current conductors.
...we will forget the off switch. I understand the need for managed shutdown, but there was always something satisfying about activating a solid on/off switch to cut all power to the system. The switch always did the same thing. It was dependable. Sometimes, if it was spring-loaded, it even had a satisfying "chunk" noise to tell you with extreme prejudice, this machine is OFF. Industrial!
At one time, before the widespread adoption of journaling file systems, people said that the requirement of managed shutdown would make Unix/Linux unacceptable for most people. Ha! Nowadays when people hit the START button to get to the SHUTDOWN, Windows will sit there, "saving your settings" for a good minute or more.
Link is not working for me.
Did they include the "guy standing over rope with axe" switch to shut down the Manhattan project reactor pile?
Sometimes low tech is the best tech.
I believe we're no longer allowed to refer to them as "kill" switches, there's an obvious implication of violence. We have to refer to them as unpower switches.
Thankfully I'm not serious...yet.
"It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education." -Albert Einstein
http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/magic-story.html
Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
The traditional wall mounted box with a pull lever on the side. It opens so you can see the simple mechanical switch inside. Lockable, so that you can insure that it won't get switched back on, while your hands are inside the guts of something electromechanical.
Simple, safe, and sure. That is why they have been used, and will be, for years.
Yes, you read that right, one of the best off switches ever is fitted to the android from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Data, as he's known to his friends -- seen here snogging the face off the Borg Queen -- had one secret he only told a select few people. He could be deactivated with a power button on his leg. Yeah... but it was on his hip, not his leg. Which, I suppose, could make sex with the Borg Queen a bit of a pain...
"Oh yeah, yeah, wait, no, don't touch me th*thunk*"
The mnemonic is an "open" ( O ) versus "closed" ( | ) electrical circuit. A circle could be seen as open, as the circuit appears to "break" as it passes through the center of the O. Meanwhile a closed circuit passes directly through the center of the line, unbroken.
I like the 'Emergency Mode' switch also found on some military hardware, or radios at least. Runs it flat out at whatever the highest power it can output until something fries.
They could have left one of the toggle switches out and included some sort of a dead man switch. Foot or hand operated from a train perhaps.
I used to operate light rail vehicles. If you let go of the switch the the train went into maximum braking. I remember it was abrupt, can't remember if it automatically dumped the sand in front of the steel wheels or you had to do that yourself.
No, try again.... Not Leg, not armpit, but beneath his right shoulder blade. (http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/TNG/character/1112457.html)
Please rotate user 90 degrees.
I am not a crackpot.
The best off button EVER:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhzvCyhkg8c
See this button?
DON'T TOUCH IT!
It's the History Eraser Button you fool !
--so what'll happen ?
That's just it! We don't know.
Maybe something bad...maybe something good
I guess we'll never know.
Cause you're going to guard it.
You won't touch it, will you?
[narrator]
Oh, how long can trusty Cadet Stimpy hold out?
How can he possibly resist the diabolical urge to push the button that could erase his very existence?
Will his tortured mind give in to it's uncontrollable desires?
Can he withstand the temptation to push the button, that even now, beckons him ever closer?
Will he succumb to the maddening urge to eradicate history, at the mere push of a single button?
The beautiful shiny button.
The jolly candy-like button.
Will he hold out, folks?
Can he hold out?
-- QED
cnet's talkback feature appears to be broken, so I'll do the thing here:
Data's off-switch is awesome, but the dude's got it wrong - it isn't on his leg, it's in his side above his hip. If I remember right, above his right hip.
Triv
I think this CNET article is irresponsible for giving credit to some un-pictured mythical switch on Data's leg while not acknowledging the tractor-beam shutdown switch Obi-Wan Kenobi flipped. That sucker filled his whole palm and was mounted on a ledge with a 1000' drop-off. Here's a photo.
Seth
$5 / month hosted VPS on linux = awesome!
This is one of my favorite switches. Of course, we bought it, and then realized that we don't have much use for it. But it's a neat idea! Someday we'll hook it up to something.