When the Clapper showed up on late-night infomercials, the way we turn lights on and off was revolutionized forever. the iOn has a similarly game-changing purpose: to change the way we switch our lights from on to off and back again. Arguably a little less convenient than the Clapper, the iOn can change any light switch into a touchless capacitive switch that you have only to wave your hand in front of.

The iOn works with the same technology that touchscreens use: capacitive sensing. But you don’t have to actually touch the iOn to make it work; you only have to wave your hand in front of it. That’s because its capacitive field is much larger than the typical touchscreen. The iOn even lets you put a conductive object into its capacitive field to extend its reach. A metal statuette, a decorative item, or even a fishbowl can become your light switch.

Replacing your current mechanical light switches with iOn is simple, as you can see in the product’s Kickstarter video above. It can be installed flush against the wall or even inside of the wall so your houseguests will be utterly stumped when they try to find the light switch in the middle of the night. Custom plates can be installed over the iOn to personalize the system and give a visual clue as to the whereabouts of the light controls.

The iOn doesn’t only control lights; anything with an on/off switch in your home can be converted. Some of the examples given in the Kickstarter pitch are ceiling fans and whirlpool bubblers. But one of the most interesting features of the system is that it can be controlled remotely via a smartphone app. You can switch lights on and off or create a random switching pattern when you’re away from home to fool any wiley characters in your neighborhood.

The post Capacitive Light Switch Does Away With Grimy Flip Switches first appeared on Gajitz.

The switch plate is an overlooked, underused and often abused home accessory. For as small a space it fills, designer Justin Porcano very cleverly turned the small uni-tasking panel into a full-on utility area.

Porcano created the Walhub, a dedicated location to hang, store, place and stick those items you use every day – keys, sunglasses, light sweaters and even the mail. Just to the right or left of the switch (the Walhub offers plates for rocker and toggle switches) is an added area that can feature up to two hooks and a slot wide enough to fit several envelopes. It can purportedly hold up to fifteen pounds.

Walhub adds practical function to a logical location.  In one swoop, the lights are turned off and your keys are in your hands. Now, the question is: do you know where your keys are?

The post Simple Extension Turns Switch Plates Into Storage Centers first appeared on Gajitz.

The way we interact with electronics has drastically changed from being based on physical switches to using primarily touch screens. The EveryTouchFX system would take that new standard from the world of computers to the physical realm by turning absolutely everything into a touch sensor.

The team behind the EveryTouchFX doesn’t give much information on how their invention works, but they do say that it isn’t based on radio waves, infrared or electric sensors. The sensor modules can be fitted behind or under virtually any material up to two inches thick, turning that material into a touch panel.

According to the makers, EveryTouchFX could be used to eliminate unsightly and unsanitary light switches in public places. The versatile touch panels could also be used in homes to add a more decorative element to electric switches. The biggest problem with that application, however, would be the utter confusion for visitors caused by the lack of switches.

The post Touch the World: System Turns Anything Into a Touch Panel first appeared on Gajitz.

Could you be disgusted into using less electricity? That was the hope of German artist Katrin Baumgarten when she designed a series of thoroughly disgusting wall switches. According to the artist, we use light switches in a subconscious manner these days, never actually thinking about the impact that little switch is making.

But every bit of energy we use does have an effect on the planet, whether we realize it consciously or not. That is why Baumgarten strove to draw attention to the humble light switch: that most overlooked of household objects.

Baumgarten designed a series of switches, all of which were disgusting in their own way. Of the most notable examples: one switch dispenses snot-like goo from a little hole in the corner as long as it is turned on. Another features wiry hairs that stand up as a hand gets close enough to turn the switch on.

Mold, dirty chewed gum and good old plain dirt adorned other switches. Baumgarten set them up in a series with fourteen switches mounted on a wall. Above each was a virtual light bulb that flicked on when the switch was activated…but visitors had to get over the “yuck” factor first.

Industrial design will probably never take us down the path of energy conservation via shock factor, but this project does give hope that we can reduce energy usage by simply making users more aware of their actions.

The post Dirty Switches: Energy Reduction Through Total Disgust first appeared on Gajitz.