Why is THIS symbol on power buttons?

"cesariojpn" (cesariojpn) 04/03/2017 at 10:07 • Filed to: symbols

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In this video, learn why this symbol is on many power buttons, and why minimalist symbols try to convey as much info as possible despite what language the user has (especially on cars).

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > cesariojpn 04/03/2017 at 10:13

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Not watching the video right now, but my assumption would be that since on-off has been generally symbolized with 0-1, the power symbol is just combining the 0-1 into one symbol.

ttyymmnn > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 04/03/2017 at 10:18

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Exactly right. I had a Xerox technician tell me that once.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 04/03/2017 at 10:46

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IIRC the reason the 1 intersects the 0, is because there’s always some power in the system. Or something like that.

facw > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 04/03/2017 at 11:10

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Also not watching the video, but my understanding is that it’s not 0 and 1, but rather “open” and “connected”. But yeah, either way, merged into single symbol for a single button toggle, as opposed to separated on a switch.

Regardless a symbol that makes sense to electrical engineers, but is meaningful to most consumers only because it has been used so long. Not good UX at all, though changing it at this point would almost certainly be worse.