Albert Einstein said, “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.” Whether in architectural design, software coding, engineering discipline or even managing people, simplicity is an overriding goal and success is achieved when a product or process is at its maximum simplicity.
Electronic design engineers have the challenging job of making very complex processes simple with their design and most hold true to the Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS) principle. However, while there are a number of factors to think about when simplifying your design from power management to sensor solutions, nowhere is simplicity more important than the initial and primary interface with the user: the electromechanical switch.
Switches are where the simplicity of your design will play out, but the simplicity of the interaction will depend on the decisions you make when specifying each switch in the interface of your device. When it comes to streamlining the human-machine interface, designers need to pay attention to a particular set of criteria to ensure the interface will accomplish its intended purpose. When designing your next device consider the following questions.
How will the user interact with the machine?
The needs of the end user must be considered first and foremost. This includes factors such as feedback, illumination and legends to indicate dedicated functions or status Designers should consider if feedback needs to be tactile, audible or visual. Tactile feedback transmits a sensation to the operator to indicate transfer of circuit.
Other switch applications may use illuminated switches at the man-machine interface. Illuminated switches use an internal light, typically a LED or incandescent bulb, to indicate status. There are pros and cons to each. LEDs have a virtually unlimited service life at about 100,000 hours and an unmatched level of brightness. On the other hand, incandescent lamps operate in a self-destructive mode to produce light, resulting in a shorter lifetime of approximately 7,000 hours.
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