Who 'invented' the ON button...

[KsprayDad]

Little things bug me sometimes (if you define sometimes as always)...

Who or what company first used the following symbol to denote on/off? It has become so common on so many electronic items (and software) that I wonder...where did it start in order to gain such acceptance?

http://i2.tinypic.com/25zl1df.jpg

[Ziggy007]

It is actually the governments way of preparing you to read alien languages for when they decide to disclose this information to the public

[danfromwaterloo]

It's just a combination of binary 1 and 0. I'd bet it was IBM, considering they used to have their power labelled 1010...

[KsprayDad]

It's just a combination of binary 1 and 0. I'd bet it was IBM, considering they used to have their power labelled 1010...

Thats cool info...never thought of that...do you have a source or is this your concept?

Want to know where it was used first arrrgh!

[deep]

It's a relatively recent design...I've had PCs with 10 and 1/0 prior to the advent of that symbol. So within the last 10-15 years, at any rate.

[langong]

I thought that sign resembled the contact switch more than binary 1 & 0

[gman]

I thought that sign resembled the contact switch more than binary 1 & 0

The on/off switch used to be a flip switch. That is "1" in one side and "0" in another side. The new button has only one pressing point. That is you press the same place for both on and off. The symbol put "1" and "0" together.

Somehow, I have a feeling this symbol was not designed by IBM. May be it is from some 'standard' organization like ISO or whatever.

[PrimoTurbo]

Circle means off while vertical line means on, more info about them found here.

http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/26/261.html Circle
http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/10/101.html Vertical Line
http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/06/0619.html On and Off

[gman]

Circle means off while vertical line means on, more info about them found here.

http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/26/261.html Circle
http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/10/101.html Vertical Line
http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/06/0619.html On and Off

I think everybody knows that regarding the part about on and off. The question is where they came from.
I think the circle is 0 and the vertical line is 1.

[bobaroo]

I think everybody knows that regarding the part about on and off. The question is where they came from.
I think the circle is 0 and the vertical line is 1.

The symbols.com link says that they symbolize a broken circuit, although "1" and "0" makes more sense for computers.

[danfromwaterloo]

Thats cool info...never thought of that...do you have a source or is this your concept?

Want to know where it was used first arrrgh!

My old Thinkpad had the slider switch that had the 1010 diagram on it. My current laptop has the new design.

[gman]

The symbols.com link says that they symbolize a broken circuit, although "1" and "0" makes more sense for computers.

Actually, symbols.com link said that symbol is for 'off' only. 'On' is something else. It is either a complete circle (after the vertical is turned 90 degree) or the vertical line is within the circle.

[Ryo]

I'm pretty sure it's due to the symbol becoming an IEEE standard.

I think standards like these are great, makes things easier for everyone, not having to explain to someone which one is the power button for each device regarless of what part of the world you live in or what language you speak.

Same way your telephone Dial-Pad is pretty much an international standard regardless of what language is spoken its always the same layout and numbers.

[gman]

Same way your telephone Dial-Pad is pretty much an international standard regardless of what language is spoken its always the same layout and numbers.

Except it does not match the calculator or keyboard keypad.

[KsprayDad]

Except it does not match the calculator or keyboard keypad.

I'm accepting the 1/0 binary explanation...especially when someone reminded me of those bad a$$ red/orange IBM on/off switches.

http://williambader.com/museum/at/28atside.jpg

Would be neat to find out who used it first but atleast a good explanation of the symbol has been offered!

[KsprayDad]

According to this paper the image under discussion is supposed to be a standby button with a fully enclosed line meaning power or on/off.

http://www2.sims.berkeley.edu/courses/is271/f01/projects/PowerControls/phase1.html

On/Off http://www2.sims.berkeley.edu/courses/is271/f01/projects/PowerControls/img/image003.gif

Standby http://www2.sims.berkeley.edu/courses/is271/f01/projects/PowerControls/img/image010.gif

Hmmm....

Found the standards:

An international standard for the symbols does exist (IEC 60417 and ISO 7000); however, those few manufacturers that adhere to the standard often implement it in different ways. Their database is by subscription but atlast...an answer! http://www.standardsstore.ca/eSpecs/SearchFormAction.do?page=1&searchValue=60417&searchKey=DOCNO&organizations=IEC

[gman]

According to this paper the image under discussion is supposed to be a standby button with a fully enclosed line meaning power or on/off.

http://www2.sims.berkeley.edu/courses/is271/f01/projects/PowerControls/phase1.html

On/Off http://www2.sims.berkeley.edu/courses/is271/f01/projects/PowerControls/img/image003.gif

Standby http://www2.sims.berkeley.edu/courses/is271/f01/projects/PowerControls/img/image010.gif

Hmmm....

Found the standards:

An international standard for the symbols does exist (IEC 60417 and ISO 7000); however, those few manufacturers that adhere to the standard often implement it in different ways. Their database is by subscription but atlast...an answer! http://www.standardsstore.ca/eSpecs/SearchFormAction.do?page=1&searchValue=60417&searchKey=DOCNO&organizations=IEC

True. At least, XP "Start"->"Turn off computer" agrees with that.

[gman]

I'm accepting the 1/0 binary explanation...especially when someone reminded me of those bad a$$ red/orange IBM on/off switches.

http://williambader.com/museum/at/28atside.jpg

Would be neat to find out who used it first but atleast a good explanation of the symbol has been offered!

You don't need to go that far. You just need to check the button of the power supply in the back of your PC.

[Thai]

Al Gore. :cheesygri

[CoinSaver]

I remember some really old Macs that had that icon. This would be back in the late 80's.

[squall458]

Al Gore. :cheesygri
what a great man!

[sf1]

i think its india.