Standby, you’re banned
by Charlie Peverett in At home on 27.12.07
Already sold off the novelty socks via eBay? Then here’s an idea for what you might do with the extra cash: declare war on standby.
Earlier in the year we covered the marvellous ‘house-off’ button, which removes the power supply to all non-essential electrical items when you leave the home.
But for a less comprehensive solution, how about the Bye Bye Standby, a device that allows you to remotely switch off individual appliances at the plug?
We came across it via a review at BusinessGreen blog, which reckons that it provides a solution that works around both our “innate laziness” and the “awful design of many electrical appliances.”
The review points out that it won’t work perfectly with all devices:
Simply cutting the power to a computer that has been inadvertently left on would cause considerable technical problems. Equally, you could use the device to turn off video recorders, microwaves and the like, but only if you enjoy the prospect of reprogramming the clock every time you switch them back on again.
However, it certainly should help to manage those always-on appliances where the plug socket is hidden away under a desk or behind a cupboard.
And the prospect of Bye Bye Standby Online takes remote control to another level entirely, promising to allow you to monitor and manage your domestic power use from anywhere in the world.
We can’t think of many circumstances where you’d need that ability, but can imagine it being the ultimate accessory for control freaks.
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