Product Review: LEDs Shouldn't Blink for No Reason

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In the modern world of ubiquitous electronic gadgets the LED has become the number one signaling technique. This little electric device's name stands for Light Emitting Diode; it's the blue, green, red, orange, or yellow indicator light on your PC, memory stick, cell phone, PDA, headphones, battery charger, surge protector, etc. I'm looking at three right now…and I'm in a café. When I turn off the lights in my office it's like a planetarium with a full spectrum of heavenly glowing objects. In my bedroom I've had to put gaffers tape over a few things' LEDs to keep them from acting as nightlights. It's gotten a bit out of hand.

Don't get me wrong, I understand their uses and benefits: traffic signals now consume significantly less energy, Christmas lights are cooler and less dangerous, the status of a dozen devices can be checked in a second's glance, and I've got a constant update as to whether my cell phone is receiving both Bluetooth and cellular signals. So what's the problem? I DON'T WANT A CONSTANT UPDATE from my cell phone, computer, memory stick, speakers, headphones, etc. that it's doing what it is supposed to be doing. I'm sick of being distracted by the flashing blue light of other people's Bluetooth headset (I painted over the light on my own Bluetooth headphones). I'm annoyed by the flickering light display of a room full of computers and PDAs. But you can't blame the people for the eyesores they create, they're just using useful products…we have to blame to moronic manufacturers who put the light emitting diodes on the devices and don't include a way to turn them off.

Some of these lights are useful or even necessary. The light on my headphones would tell me when it's in detection mode, when it's receiving a call, when its battery is low, etc. (before I painted over it). But it also incessantly blinks while under normal operation. Whose stupid idea was that? I only need an indicator light when there is something other than "everything is fine" to indicate. Do you ever hear stories on the news that say "Everything is status quo today, nothing to report."? NO!! -- because they don't report the stuff that doesn't need any report. Electronic device manufacturers need to learn what is common sense to everyone else, "if it ain't broke, don't tell me about it."


About me

  • I'm Aaron Bramson
  • At the University of Michigan


  • This blog is an extension of my normal website (www.bramson.net) where I used to post various articles in my critic's corner section. Using this blog provides easier maintenance, greater functionality, and a wider readership of my thoughts, opinions, and complaints about life and living it.

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