Comments on: Natural mapping of light switches http://fivesketches.com/2009/11/natural-mapping-of-switches/ Ideation, design, and usability for development teams Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:52:11 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Greg Olsen http://fivesketches.com/2009/11/natural-mapping-of-switches/comment-page-1/#comment-491 Greg Olsen Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:09:01 +0000 http://fivesketches.com/?p=2864#comment-491 Hmmm..sorry Rand..dimmers do NOT work by resistance. It uses PWM (pulse width Modulation) for DC dimming or fo AC dimming dimmers use a Triac or SCR to chop pulses of varying voltage out of the sinusoidal waveform which is not very wasteful at all. The dimmer just picks out the volage it needs to produce dimmer or brighter light. Hmmm..sorry Rand..dimmers do NOT work by resistance. It uses PWM (pulse width Modulation) for DC dimming or fo AC dimming dimmers use a Triac or SCR to chop pulses of varying voltage out of the sinusoidal waveform which is not very wasteful at all. The dimmer just picks out the volage it needs to produce dimmer or brighter light.

]]> By: Rand http://fivesketches.com/2009/11/natural-mapping-of-switches/comment-page-1/#comment-385 Rand Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:29:20 +0000 http://fivesketches.com/?p=2864#comment-385 Having worked in building trades, I would posit that the vast majority of electricians (and apprentices) are competent enough to install a pair of three-way switches. What happens far more frequently is the owner-occupier making changes later without a reasonable understanding of the standards, materials, tools and dependencies related to the work. I've seen it in electrical, plumbing, painting, roofing, flooring and landscaping. We can all certainly see the analogy as applied to software. I strongly disagee with the suggestion about dimmer switches - they work by varying the amount of electrical resistance, and where there is high resistance (low current and thus lighting) the result is heat produced as a byproduct. Wasteful at best, potentially dangerous at worst, and does not actually address the problem. I suspect one or both of the three-ways have been inadvertently replaced with standard two-ways; will take an electrician about six minutes to correct. Having worked in building trades, I would posit that the vast majority of electricians (and apprentices) are competent enough to install a pair of three-way switches.
What happens far more frequently is the owner-occupier making changes later without a reasonable understanding of the standards, materials, tools and dependencies related to the work. I’ve seen it in electrical, plumbing, painting, roofing, flooring and landscaping.
We can all certainly see the analogy as applied to software.
I strongly disagee with the suggestion about dimmer switches - they work by varying the amount of electrical resistance, and where there is high resistance (low current and thus lighting) the result is heat produced as a byproduct. Wasteful at best, potentially dangerous at worst, and does not actually address the problem. I suspect one or both of the three-ways have been inadvertently replaced with standard two-ways; will take an electrician about six minutes to correct.

]]> By: Tom Smith http://fivesketches.com/2009/11/natural-mapping-of-switches/comment-page-1/#comment-355 Tom Smith Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:54:58 +0000 http://fivesketches.com/?p=2864#comment-355 Having light switches that do the "both need to be on to be on" thing isn't a usability problem, it means your house has been wired by bad electricians. Rather than call in more bad electricians, simply replace both switches with dimmer switches and never ever turn the light fully off again. Another usability problem solved! p.s And make sure your house insurance is up to date Having light switches that do the “both need to be on to be on” thing isn’t a usability problem, it means your house has been wired by bad electricians.

Rather than call in more bad electricians, simply replace both switches with dimmer switches and never ever turn the light fully off again.

Another usability problem solved!

p.s And make sure your house insurance is up to date

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