Power symbol

A power symbol is a symbol indicating that a control activates or deactivates a particular device. It incorporates line and circle figures, with the arrangement informed by the function of the control. The universal power symbols are described in the IEC 60417 standard, "Graphical symbols for use on equipment", appearing in the 1973 edition of the document (as IEC 417) and informally used earlier.cite web | url=http://www.energy.ca.gov/reports/2003-10-31_500-03-012F_APP.PDF | author=Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory | publisher=California Energy Commission | title=The Power Control User Interface Standard (consultant report) | format=PDF | date=December 2002 | accessdate=2007-04-26]

Definitions

tandby symbol ambiguity

Because the exact meaning of the standby symbol on a given device may be unclear until the control is tried, it has been proposed that a separate sleep symbol, a crescent moon, instead be used to indicate a low power state. Proponents include the California Energy Commission and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Under this proposal, the older standby symbol would be redefined as a generic "power" indication, in cases where the difference between it and the other power symbols would not present a safety concern. This alternative symbology was published as IEEE standard 1621 on 2004-12-08.cite web | url=http://www.energy.ca.gov/reports/2003-10-31_500-03-076F.PDF | author=Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory | publisher=California Energy Commission | title=Draft Standard for User Interface Elements in Power Control of Electronic Devices Employed in Office/Consumer Environments (consultant report) | format=PDF | date=December 2002 | accessdate=2007-04-26] [cite web | url=http://www.aip.org/dbis/HFES/stories/15017.html | title=Save Energy at Your PC; Energy Scientists Propose Color-Coding Standard for PC Sleep Mode | publisher=American Institute of Physics | date=2005-06-01 | accessdate=2007-04-26] cite web | url=http://eetd.lbl.gov/Controls/1621/1621index.html | title=Power Management Controls - User Interface Standard - IEEE 1621 | publisher=IEEE | accessdate=2007-04-26]

In popular culture

The standby symbol, frequently seen on personal computers, is a popular icon among technology enthusiasts. It features prominently in the Applegeeks webcomic, and can even be found on T-shirts [http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts/generic/586b/] . It has also been used in corporate logos, such as for Gateway, Inc. (circa 2002) and Exelon, and even as personal tattoos. It is possible that the symbol is actually 2 symbols "0" and "1" to denote off and on in binary language. Another explanation is that "1" represents a closed switch and "0" represents an open switch, in common with engineering diagrams.

References

* [http://www.graphical-symbols.info/ IEC/ISO Database on Graphical Symbols for Use on Equipment]
* [http://eetd.lbl.gov/Controls/overview/symbols1.pdf ISO/IEC/JTC1 Graphical Symbols for Office Equipment] , Environmental Energy Technologies Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory