Why is THIS the power symbol?

Рет қаралды 759,763

7 жыл бұрын

The power symbol has seemingly been around forever. But there’s a distinct reason that it looks the way it does! There’s also more than one power symbol, with each one meaning something different.
● Here's IEC 60417 online:
www.iso.org/obp/ui#iso:pub:PU...
● Consider supporting LGR on Patreon:
/ lazygamereviews
● Social links:
/ lazygamereviews
/ lazygamereviews
● Music credits:
"A Playful Mood 2"
www.epidemicsound.com

Пікірлер: 1 300

@Monody512 4 жыл бұрын

I always assumed it was a graphical representation of a switch breaking a circuit.

@schwarzerritter5724 4 жыл бұрын

I thought it was a representation of a coin slot.

@Karnemelk 4 жыл бұрын

I always thought it represented a round keyway as old computers were turned on and off with a round key and it's basically the same shape.

@paparansen 4 жыл бұрын

it is... this "explanation video" is bullshit.

@lunachocken 4 жыл бұрын

I thought it was like a 1 on and 0 off I knew it

@Yal_Rathol 4 жыл бұрын

@@paparansen and yet, you won't be able to prove him wrong, because i just did a deep dive and there is no report available on the origin or meaning of the standby symbol. so, unless you contact the IEC directly or pay a subscription to use their catalogs, you won't be able to prove otherwise.

@briandemodulated 7 жыл бұрын

I really have to hand it to LGR. I thought to myself, "The title of this video can be answered in one sentence. Why is the video 5+ minutes?" but the whole thing was informative and entertaining. You're a great teacher, Clint!

@LGR 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@mattcintosh2 7 жыл бұрын

I knew about the symbols, but didn't realize the soft/hard power difference. I just thought the difference was a design choice, not something that meant something else.

@ethangorsuch7284 6 жыл бұрын

briandemodulate

@paskapaavo 6 жыл бұрын

I didn't know at this and many other symbols are standards. I thought at they are common and similar only for practical reason. But someone has done huge work for 'high beams' symbol.

@stoopiosproductions3130 5 жыл бұрын

His name is pepper RONI not clint

@monolalia 7 жыл бұрын

The "save" symbol being a floppy disk, on the other hand, is rapidly stopping to make sense

@LGR 7 жыл бұрын

Yep, and that is an example of a non-standard, but widely understood symbol. It's not official in any capacity.

@monolalia 7 жыл бұрын

I never really considered that there might be an official catalogue of standardised symbols... I guess I just imagined it as an informal convention/consensus. (But then there'd probably be frivolus intellectual property disputes about the shape of the "play" button...?)

@jamiemarchant 7 жыл бұрын

That's soon to change as people in Gen Z grow up. That reminds me of this comic I saw. A gen Z walks up to a person with a floppy and says "Oh cool you 3D printed the save symbol".

@monolalia 7 жыл бұрын

"You truspaced a holoprojection of a 3D-printed save symbol"

@gentuxable 7 жыл бұрын

Will we even need to save anything manually in the future? I mean there are already many applications that save every change as a delta which can be reversed anytime (like in photo editing, Versioning systems, etc)

@StoneCoolds 4 жыл бұрын

When you try to sound smart: She: its not working Me: Have you pressed the IEC 60417-5009 key for 3 seconds? 🧐

@lunathewolf7190 4 жыл бұрын

5:00 dont die drive safely

@GrzegorzDurda 4 жыл бұрын

Don't forget the + and - buttons used alot.

@OrangeC7 4 жыл бұрын

@@GrzegorzDurda well I mean those have been around for even longer

@GrzegorzDurda 4 жыл бұрын

@@OrangeC7 That's true. Far longer then almost any symbol in Modern day technological interface usage.

@haruhisuzumiya6650 4 жыл бұрын

It's from the I T crowd?

@steeltalongranduer2303 4 жыл бұрын

Prediction: it’s cutting off the circuit in order to shut it down. Result: I was wrong

@morgankasper5227 4 жыл бұрын

i didnt think it was that anyways

@Yamaazaka 4 жыл бұрын

I've always thought that since I was a kid.

@FreeStuffPlease 4 жыл бұрын

I thought it had to do with circuits as well. Made sense. Never would of guess'd it was binary.

@ArtumTsumia 4 жыл бұрын

I'm fairly certain that it _is_ an indicator of open or closed circuit, thus why the separate components are used on switches. I've never heard anything about it being a binary representation before and I'm curious where that came from particularly since it's clearly a circle and not a zero.

@WodkaEclair 3 жыл бұрын

This is like the third time ive watched this vid, and EVERY time I think it's a circuit being broken.

@Disthron 4 жыл бұрын

I remember back in the '90s when my family got their first camcorder, my mom was amazed that I somehow knew how to record with the thing after playing with it for just 5 minutes. She asked me how I knew the record button... was the record button and I was like, it's the one that has the record symbol on it.

@mikilsantiago4213 7 жыл бұрын

"I HAVE THE (stand by)!!!!"

@cimeigianluca5920 6 жыл бұрын

CZ se@b

@CoolGabrijel 5 жыл бұрын

I HAVE THE turn on

@W3Rn1ckz 5 жыл бұрын

I HAVE THE 1/0

@neilisbored2177 5 жыл бұрын

NINTENDO (IEC 60417: 5009)

@LIVEMETRIX187 5 жыл бұрын

@@W3Rn1ckz I/O*

@TDGalea 7 жыл бұрын

"It's literally just a combination of 0 and 1; this video's gonna be boring as hell". Oh boi was I wrong about the latter.

@420sakura1 4 жыл бұрын

Because it's LGR. If anyone else tried it won't be even half as interesting.

@archdukefranzferdinand567 4 жыл бұрын

@@420sakura1 what if half as interesting covered it?

@807D14M0ND5 4 жыл бұрын

@@archdukefranzferdinand567 a quick Google session would have covered it. This is edutainment.

@AKuld 3 жыл бұрын

Same

@MaximilienNoal 7 жыл бұрын

I love this type of niche knowledge. Sadly I am unable to share it verbally without making it instantly boring, thanks to being shy. But I can show your videos to people. Thank you so much!

@LGR 7 жыл бұрын

You bet, glad it's appreciated :)

@Danilo85868 5 жыл бұрын

Man, you just decribed myself.

@saincx0m9 4 жыл бұрын

When you ask who created the dot yeah this is big brain time

@larryrivers2752 4 жыл бұрын

It was first called a period.

@babushkablyattv2751 4 жыл бұрын

@ThaKos69 who are you talking to?

@gone3281 4 жыл бұрын

I always though is a "power dial", the ones you turn clock wise , just like the "save" icon is an old 3 1/2 floppy disk.

@Martijn00095 4 жыл бұрын

I Thought it represented a simplified image of a finger pressing a button...

@Katze123 4 жыл бұрын

lol me too

@Katze123 4 жыл бұрын

Lol me too

@adampetrowski 4 жыл бұрын

lol me too

@adampetrowski 4 жыл бұрын

Lol me too

@nehoy463 4 жыл бұрын

lol me too

@MrHack4never 7 жыл бұрын

4:00 Unicode should add ALL of those to the emoji library

@RyanTosh 4 жыл бұрын

IKR, it's so annoying how the most useful icons aren't even available as unicode, yet there are absolutely pointless ones that have been used maybe three times,

@danielsjohnson 4 жыл бұрын

I've only ever seen the "command" key on Macintosh keyboards so I thought that was something made by Apple.

@joule400 2 жыл бұрын

Ive always known it as a streetsign symbol for "attraction/sight"

@IntersexGamer 7 жыл бұрын

I was all like no big deal till you mentioned modern hieroglyphics then you just blew my mind. Really great video. I guess I took a lot of symbols for granted.

@DewdropAF 4 жыл бұрын

Congrats, Clint! I love your videos! Your video on the power symbol was featured in an article for one of my favorite design podcasts: '99 Percent Invisible: Ep 378-Ubiquitous Icons: Peace, Power, and Happiness'

@InstantSonic 7 жыл бұрын

LGR, you are so very classy. My wife and I are huge fans of your content, always something new to learn! :D

@LGR 7 жыл бұрын

Happy to hear that :)

@TheTechGuyYT 7 жыл бұрын

strangely enough me and my wife watch LGR to great videos with a perfect balance of funny and serious

@bauhausa6933 6 жыл бұрын

InstantSonic I NEED a a wife who enjoys LGR)

@lankey6969 7 жыл бұрын

I always thought it was a circuit being opened and closed! Really cool video!!

@derDooFi 5 жыл бұрын

Me too, it’s been confusing me for years since the closed circle is actually off.

@FreeStuffPlease 4 жыл бұрын

Same. Just looked at it, thought this, and assumed I was right.

@ArtumTsumia 4 жыл бұрын

@@derDooFi The "Circle" isn't closed, it's open, though I can see where the circle itself could be thought of as the circuit. Rather it's the state of the switch with the "Line" connecting the circuit and the "Circle" breaking it (thus the open space _inside_ the Circle).

@ArtemyMusha 7 жыл бұрын

The pause symbol even has its own name - the cesura. From what I recall, it comes from when it was used in transcripts, although it could be something different from that.

@Lacrymac 7 жыл бұрын

I'll be honest, I couldn't think how you would make an interesting video on something this simple... but you made it!! Loved it!

@theastrogamer710 7 жыл бұрын

LGR you should make a Tech Tales video about Commodore.

@atlashugged2591 7 жыл бұрын

Commodore's a good idea. I asked him to do one on MECC awhile ago but I don't know if he ever saw it.

@douwekoffeman7495 7 жыл бұрын

i agree

@GeoNeilUK 7 жыл бұрын

Personally, I think there should be a film or seris made about Commodore... or Jack Tramiel With the film called "Business Is War" and Ben Kingsley playing Jack.

@georgehenson2412 7 жыл бұрын

I don't think Kingsley could pull of the voice though.

@TanaBonana 7 жыл бұрын

I ate a bunch of jelly beans a few months ago, and at that same time I binge watched your videos. Now when I hear your voice I taste jelly beans. 🍬

@LGR 7 жыл бұрын

Rad.

@TanaBonana 7 жыл бұрын

Stereotypy Music I actually agree. I had a whole bag of candy and I picked out everything except the jelly beans so that was all I was left with. I really only like peach lol

@TanaBonana 7 жыл бұрын

Stereotypy Music omg yes lol gum drops are terrible

@nutcracker5251 7 жыл бұрын

I get a similar thing tasting Big Macs while listening to Miami Sound Machine

@RetroVGN 7 жыл бұрын

Is this sexual orrrrrrr.....?

@krejslayer 7 жыл бұрын

Dude, I just wanted you to know that I really enjoy your informative videos on random stuff like this. And of course hard/oddware videos! One of my all-time favorite YT-channels. Cheers!

@LGR 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you, I hope you continue to enjoy!

@jaykstah 7 жыл бұрын

Your videos are always insanely interesting. I already knew about the symbol's correlation to I/O, but it was interesting to also learn in the same video that all of those other recognizable symbols were standardized by the same people. Thanks for the great content!

@5MadMovieMakers 7 жыл бұрын

Powerful stuff

@williamhaynes7089 3 жыл бұрын

shockingly true!

@hokusman100 5 жыл бұрын

I always thought it was an image of an electrical circuit being broken

@eddiehimself 4 жыл бұрын

The IEC is a very helpful organization. One really useful thing they have on their website is the various types of plug socket and which countries around the world use which, so you no longer need worry about going abroad and finding that your domestic plugs don't fit.

@SlavaisFilth 7 жыл бұрын

Congrats on getting trending Clint! Amazing and very insightful video as always

@DailyFunFacts 7 жыл бұрын

Awesome video!

@eightiesboy 4 жыл бұрын

I never thought about it. I just keep pressing. I am merely a lemming.

@screech82 7 жыл бұрын

Learntastic! A quick combo word to say Learn and Fantastic. Because that's what you do, educative and wonderful videos. Keep up the good work Clint!

@epsilonsigmamu 7 жыл бұрын

Solid video as always LGR. Keep doing what you do. Love your videos.

@marco_evertus 7 жыл бұрын

I sometimes thought about it but never bothered to google it, well now I know and it's all thanks to LGR.

@Bartonovich52 4 жыл бұрын

When I see the separate symbols on a power supply switch..... I just remember that the O stands for Off.

@Devilot91 4 жыл бұрын

Same... and the I for, uh, In? Yet sometimes I got confused and forgot what O is off and I is on

@IroAppe 4 жыл бұрын

You really still have to consciously think about it?

@haruhisuzumiya6650 4 жыл бұрын

Input /output symbols

@mikestewart9088 7 жыл бұрын

Dude! Very random but love the Datsun 510 ad you had towards the beginning. I had to rewind it to see if I saw it right. Awesome video and awesome car choice LOL.

@apexavoider 7 жыл бұрын

As always, a great video. I really enjoy your content LGR! The looped square at 3:57 is also used in the Nordic countries on roadsigns as a symbol for places of interest since the late '60s. At least here in Finland, we also used it to keep bad luck or even evil demons away.

@moag2000 4 жыл бұрын

Did they also standardize the "x" for doubt?

@LBTennis 7 жыл бұрын

Switch teaser there at the end. Maybe some thoughts on the Switch so far?

@LGR 7 жыл бұрын

"Eh, s'okay." -LGR, 2017

@LBTennis 7 жыл бұрын

Lazy Game Reviews A true "Lazy Review".

@jamiemarchant 7 жыл бұрын

Looks like LGR SWICHED on the power!

@makaylaserniotti1474 7 жыл бұрын

Zapfenstreich you can plat breath of the wild on the wiiu you know

@DjBasA38 7 жыл бұрын

video begins, clint says ''switch is okay'', video ends. 8 seconds long video.

@SilphCo 4 жыл бұрын

So awesome that this episode got a shout out on one of my favorite podcasts: 99% Invisible !

@LGR 4 жыл бұрын

Very awesome indeed, had no idea they were gonna do that!

@rerunx5 7 жыл бұрын

I enjoy your retrospectives. Keep up the great work.

@WednesdayMan 7 жыл бұрын

I showed a floppy disk to someone that person said: "you 3d printed the save symbol". and then I told him a very small amount of history about why the save symbol is the save symbol "you do realise that this was made before the save symbol? yeah the save symbol is something called a floppy disc, a old storage medium once used for storing data, it's obsolete nowadays since we go over gigabytes worth of data"

@heinousdickanus6040 7 жыл бұрын

I've always thought it was a finger pushing a button.

@calebwilliamson4418 7 жыл бұрын

I don't know if it's your voice the topics or what but I find myself waiting for your videos every week. another great video good sir!

@StopChangingUsernamesYouTube 4 жыл бұрын

What I really like about the power symbols, and many of those in the list, is that even if it isn't immediately clear what something means, I can either test a button and immediately grasp the idea behind a symbol, or look at what the symbol is attached to and infer through context. For the power button, it took noticing symilar symbols on power switches, then I immediately had a flash of "Ah. Binary!" as a small child. When a seven or eight year old can almost immediately understand an abstract symbol, that's a really good abstract symbol.

@travosk216 7 жыл бұрын

What types of jazz do you listen to ?

@LGR 7 жыл бұрын

The jazziest kinds.

@travosk216 7 жыл бұрын

Makes sense...

@Abdega 7 жыл бұрын

You like jazz? 🐝

@NilesTheRobot 7 жыл бұрын

Travos k Ya like jazz? 🐝🐝🐝

@aidanarguin2485 7 жыл бұрын

ya like jazz

@ChristopherFossMusic 7 жыл бұрын

Do I sense... a Nintendo Switch review at some point? :3 In all seriousness, love the videos as always. I do indeed find a similar odd fascination with the fact that the symbols are indeed essentially a worldwide language. Thank you very much for the video. :)

@ReneeDotje 7 жыл бұрын

Funny how you recognise these symbols immediately without thinking twice. Very interesting video! I love your channel for all these amazingly interesting facts I would've never known otherwise. (Although I stumbled upon your channel a few years ago because of sims. Katy Perry sweet treats review is epic)

@ThomasEdge 7 жыл бұрын

Great video and thorough research! Much appreciated.

@GlenMoyes 4 жыл бұрын

Congrats on appearing in 99% Invisible. ;)

@kaitoharrison872 4 жыл бұрын

Glad it's not only me who noticed.

@kingbeef5076 4 жыл бұрын

4:53 “I have the standby”

@goyabee3200 7 жыл бұрын

You make such good videos, Clint. Good job, man.

@allluckyseven 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Clint. That was super useful and informative.

@benjamenYTDeadTheGamer 7 жыл бұрын

Why doesn't the power icon have its own emoji?

@LGR 7 жыл бұрын

unicodepowersymbol.com/

@subtledemisefox 7 жыл бұрын

Lazy Game Reviews ⏻

@AlRoderick 7 жыл бұрын

If I were Unicode, I'd put that entire IEC list in there preemptively, since it meets the definition of a set of standardized symbols used for communication. The Unicode consortium isn't in the business of making value judgements, it's just there to match symbols to numbers.

@tidebleach8215 7 жыл бұрын

why do emoji's have their own movie?

@ipotatomaster3661 6 жыл бұрын

Whaa? I thougt it had

@KarlBaron 7 жыл бұрын

You just *had* to show off that you have a Switch, right? ;)

@LGR 7 жыл бұрын

Nah. If I wanted to show off I'd have shown my Panasonic Q ;)

@BloodShed4REAL 7 жыл бұрын

Q? I hate that guy!

@haruhisuzumiya6650 7 жыл бұрын

Karl Baron NINTENDO ⚡

@patrickmusson4571 6 жыл бұрын

I wanted to be that guy, lol

@PunakiviAddikti 4 жыл бұрын

Heh, clever.

@grantking2880 5 жыл бұрын

That's so neat. Thanks for making this Clint. Your videos are so soothing as well as informative. Surely there is a word for it that combines edutainment + (word for spiritual healing). I had no idea about the 1/0 bit thing. I just assumed the standby symbol was a combination of the open and closed symbols, like in a circuit. Another confusingly similar symbol is I/O acronym for input/output.

@jakeh2034 7 жыл бұрын

This was an amazing video! Keep it up man.

@GentleHeretic 7 жыл бұрын

This. This is why I'm subscribed here. LGR: asking the real questions and getting the real answers.

@fishbulb3926 4 жыл бұрын

People who came to this video: • 1% Interested in the history of the power symbol • 99% Invisible

@cursedcliff7562 4 жыл бұрын

Im in the top 1% -Oh so you're rich? Nope lol

@SilphCo 4 жыл бұрын

People after watching this video: 100% Fans of LGR

@cursedcliff7562 4 жыл бұрын

Underrated lmao

@kuntdestroyer5093 7 жыл бұрын

very interesting and original video idea. You seem to knock a lot of these out like that. Glad I Subbed.

@austinlow7209 7 жыл бұрын

That was an awesome video, thanks LGR!

@andymion 7 жыл бұрын

The real question is, can I use this to understand what the buttons do on a Japanese toilet?

@DasAntiNaziBroetchen 4 жыл бұрын

@TheBrightPixel 7 жыл бұрын

Fascinating!

@LGR 7 жыл бұрын

Glad you found it so!

@davidsmall6322 7 жыл бұрын

How is this coming up as "1 week ago"? Did The Bright Pixel and LGR invent time travel?

@TheBrightPixel 7 жыл бұрын

David Small patreon subscribers get to see it first.

@davidsmall6322 7 жыл бұрын

Gosh... that's right. Sorry guys.

@gionder 7 жыл бұрын

Watching your videos really makes me want to break out the old stuff and reminisce my childhood with Roller Coaster Tycoon, Sim City, Mini Car Racing, Speedy Eggbert and Age of Empires...

@idlehabitat 7 жыл бұрын

I really enjoyed this episode! I love learning more about the little things we might otherwise miss or take for granted.

@Jako1987 7 жыл бұрын

Dmn that list contained icons what are used in combine harvesters.

@Bluehawk2008 7 жыл бұрын

I always assumed it was a keyhole on an ignition or similar key-locked switch. I like the binary value symbolism more though.

@Infernape7890 7 жыл бұрын

That's probably the second reason it looks like that. I thought it was a keyhole, too.

@deadraque 7 жыл бұрын

same here, i learned something today :)

@elmoelmerson172 6 жыл бұрын

It sort of reminds me of a wall plug.

@MoonSpiritChannel 7 жыл бұрын

This was a very interesting bit of history, and it all makes sense! Gotta appreciate the work that goes into symbols like these.

@Zorgdub 4 жыл бұрын

I've been wondering about this for years. Thanks!

@jl9782 7 жыл бұрын

was this entire video an excuse to gloat that u got a switch

@NukTap 7 жыл бұрын

Then get a job and buy one, like what he did. (Unless he got it as a donation in which case he managed to create good enough content to do so)

@CaptainDaAwesome 7 жыл бұрын

Jack Newton You seem upset for no reason. lol

@handsomebrick 6 жыл бұрын

In a few years he'll feature it on the show.

@wythore 7 жыл бұрын

Never heard about this "theory" before, what I always heard was that the vertical line represented the "stop" of signal from the full circle (full circle meaning power was being circulated , with the vertical sign no power was going inside it)

@Yusuke_Denton 7 жыл бұрын

But that would have the opposite meaning wouldn't it?

@wythore 7 жыл бұрын

Yes so technicaly "power" would mean "power off" instead of the "power on" concept we have today

@ubernerrd 7 жыл бұрын

I've always thought of it as open circuit, closed circuit. Also, I means current in electrical engineering.

@kittenchristmas4194 7 жыл бұрын

I'm always learning something new from your videos LGR.

@yhumixiv 7 жыл бұрын

I knew this already but I couldn't stop myself from watching, love your videos too much

@djesky1 7 жыл бұрын

I got a couple of "Zzz" for sleep on my PC

@freespuddy 7 жыл бұрын

Now that's a symbol (or a word) I can relate to.

@IroAppe 4 жыл бұрын

💤

@pacman10182 7 жыл бұрын

why is it always Geneva?

@LeeDee5 7 жыл бұрын

LGR teaching me things I never knew I would learn. Thanks man!

@dewoiski 7 жыл бұрын

A very interesting video. Thank you LGR!

@aaronmcbryer3980 7 жыл бұрын

That's awesome, I saw a Garbage cover.

@aaronmcbryer3980 7 жыл бұрын

Shirley Manson is my gal.

@KarmaPharmacy 7 жыл бұрын

Upon further inspection; you have to pay for a license ($1000 USD/yr) to use these symbols, even if its personal use. lol What kind of garbage is that?

@chickencoopowner 5 жыл бұрын

hardly "not for profit"

@PUDINHED 4 жыл бұрын

Long-time subscriber to LGR & 99pi. My worlds have collided. I'll hang up and listen.

@kingfreedom2262 7 жыл бұрын

dude keep up your good work man, i love it :)

@kai988 7 жыл бұрын

Nah i'm pretty sure that the power symbol cause it looks like an energy beam

@Livereater 7 жыл бұрын

my girlfriend has a tattoo on her lower back of this universal on-off symbol

@onedeadsaint 7 жыл бұрын

I was actually thinking about this very topic a few days ago, but I wasn't curious enough to look it up. now that you made a video about it I don't have to!

@jalenbunn7114 7 жыл бұрын

congradulations on getting on trending LGR!

@folseerynd7642 7 жыл бұрын

The power symbol is a representation of Saturn. Just check out occult corporate logos.

@maxbspqr 7 жыл бұрын

Super informative, thanks so much!

@PictureProductStudio 7 жыл бұрын

I somehow missed this in April but it is really, really appropriate for my PhD thesis-in-making to illustrate a few points. And it is also, as usual, just a really great thoughtful video. LGR is the best in covering obscure topics no one else or seldom anyone will wih that much passion.

@IronSeagull 7 жыл бұрын

Very interesting and informative! Love it

@KitelessRex 7 жыл бұрын

Yet another stellar video. Thank you!

@CamilaPeet 7 жыл бұрын

I really like your videos, man! :D

@toasTr0n 7 жыл бұрын

Great entertainment value as usual! I had to watch this just to see how you could possibly fill 5.5 minutes with, "It's a 1 and 0 together," and you did not disappoint!