[IxDA Discuss] Roots of Power?

[Jim Drew]

Assuming that the "circuit diagram" origin is correct, that's got 
to be about the worst be of abstract meaningless icon design out there.  For the
vast majority of people interacting with these buttons, the particular iconography
means absolutely nothing, so it is just a "unique symbol" with no inherent
meaning or decipherability, identified only by recognition.

Of course, human beings being what we are, we assume that there *must*be* meaning
attached to the icon -- since pretty much all our others have a meaning of some 
sort.  The reverse-engineered meaning I've encountered for the icon is that 
it's an abstracted toggle switch in the up (on) position.  "This button
is a switch," one which toggles the power.

-- Jim
   Seattle
   (with no power at home this morning, no matter what position the toggle is in)


-----Original Message-----
>From: Jason Witenstein-Weaver <Jason.Witenstein-Weaver at hillcrestlabs.com>
>
>Does anyone know the "etymology" of the symbol that is ubiquitously used
>as the Power icon?