It’s funny – how many times have you been coursing through the Lowes or Home Depot looking for a light switch and thought to yourself, “boy, the to0ggle light switch is such a boring device! I think it’s time for a redesign!” I’ve not done that to date, and I have used/seen/programmed/installed some very interesting lighting controls in my life.
That doesn’t make it wrong to redesign the light switch, though!
A company called First Hand Design has redesigned the light switch, giving it some pizazz and differing usability. Their switch, the Revio, is a programmable, customizeable device that looks very, very slick – sexy, even – and I can find eleven places in my house where these would look just great. (Wink, wink, First Hand)
From the website about the Revio:
Extensive customer research has been the driver to develop instantly recognisable, simple, intuitive controls, for the first time user.
The natural layout guides the user to simply press the on/off button or touch the surface of the panel to select the scene or zone they want to control, making it completely intuitive to navigate. Twisting the rotary knob raises or lowers the light levels accordingly. The start point for the design was the premise “if an instruction or guide note is needed then the design has failed”.
A company that took usability and simplicity into account when designing a product? What?
From Yanko’s post about the Revio:
– Multiple configurations and re-programming for light settings are possible with it.
– The rotary bezel has a tactile click and a soft rubber grip.
– A ‘clean’ switch when pressed allows the panel to be cleaned without changing light levels.
– Since all the parts of the panel are separate, repairing, replacing or recycling of any individual component is possible without fuss.
– Backlit touch sensitive scene buttons.
– The pre-set programs of lightings are energy efficient.
– Choice of icons (including photographic images) and text language is included in the design.
This is a very interesting design! What do you think?
Thanks, Yanko!
Correct me if I am wrong, but this device cannot be used as a direct replacement for a light switch.
You are not wrong. The device runs on a 12vdc supply for it to control lights and other electrical devices. The switch has been designed for the Hotel, Office or Smarthome markets which have the infrastructure in place. this particular device wasn’t designed for the domestic market. But it does open the question, would there be a domestic demand for such a device?
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