The Big Red Button (of Doom)

We're pretty sure a heavy duty three-stage arming sequence big red button of doom doesn't do anything other than serve as a rather elaborate prop on one's desk—or feed one's cold-wartime fantasies of nuclear proliferation, absolute power, and, of course, mutually assured destruction. But if they set it up as a single configurable key via USB, well, we'd be in bliss. Though you shouldn't need to ask, you may want to know what application it would open? Internet Exploder, what else?

[Via Dottocomu]

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Eeeeeeeeeeexcellent. This device will allow me to wallow in my own, evil crapulence. Me likey.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

quick! someone teach me japanese! i really want one, i dont care what it does i just have to push that button!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

My god I don't think I've ever had as much gadget lust for a device as I do for this thing. I must have one. It's just so danged cool.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Man, that would be the coolest arming mechanism for my cars nos system ever.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

doesnt seem like it would be that hard to wire your own insane arming switch

just link up a bunch of switches, buttons and a car keystart thingy (buy at an autoparts store) and then you got your very own super switch of doom

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Is there any place an American could purchase one of these?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

It would be cool if it could be setup to send Ctrl-Alt-Del to your PC :)

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Actually... If that is as secure as it looks (with the key actually working and what not) it would be pretty cool to setup a script that will wipe your computer clean at the push of a button and fill the drive up with nothing bu useless bits.

How much are they selling for anyways?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Product is about $35 (about 4000 yen)...

The Japanese product page describes this as a "Jibaku" box. "Ji" meaning 'self' and "Baku" meaning 'explode'. Arming this on your car would imply an installation of a self destruct mechanism.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

The Google translation for this page notes, "As for function this way as a switch completely being not to be, please note." I take that to mean that it's for appearance sake only.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

I keep one of these in the bathroom next to the throne in case, well, you know ...

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Years ago, an electrical engineer created a small box with a "kill" button on it. It had a label attached that said "Do not plug into power socket and push button." Periodically, the power would fail in some department and the gadget would appear on someone elses desk and ...

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Product is about $35 (about 4000 yen)...

The Japanese product page describes this as a "Jibaku" box. "Ji" meaning 'self' and "Baku" meaning 'explode'. Arming this on your car would imply an installation of a self destruct mechanism.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

any place in the us sell this?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

It would be better if it were rigged for the "Blue Screen of Death" on windows.

Boss, "What's this thing do?"
Me, "I don't know? Push it and see?"
Me, "Oh god, a blue screen?!!! I was working on the crap-cess employee database and hadn't saved it!!"
Boss, "Holy crap! Did we loose the production database?!"
Me, "I am afraid so."

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

"Will he crack? He may destroy the world! Can he resist pushing the giant, shiny, red, candy-like button?"

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

it would be cool (and insane) to wire that up to be the igniter switch for the device from thebroken.org where they stuff a laptop's empty drive bay with thermite and burn it to hell

if you need to destroy your data in a hurry (say, the cops were about to break down your door and book you) this would be a very stylish way to do it

i think i'll wire my own up, shouldn't be difficult

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

haha

check out the product comments after being translated by google

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftenant.depart.livedoor.com%2Ft%2Flivedoorshop%2Fitem_detail%3Fid%3D346274&langpair=ja%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

This is so cool. Is there ANY way to get it in the US? Functional or not, it makes me droooool.

/me runs off to check ebay.....

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

After going to that Google translation, I'm not so sure this device is that innocent after all. I mean, really, its name translates to "Suicide bombing button DX" ...

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

I wouldn't worry. I don't think it comes with a thermonuclear device attached. At least not for $35.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

the device doesn't do anything; it's just "for your coffee table." (kotatsu)

i was all set to visit Akihabara on my lunch break to get one, too. What a great way to launch a game of Wolf:ET. ^_^

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Soooo fucking cool!!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Now listen, Cadet. I've got a job for you. See this button? DON'T TOUCH IT!!! It's the history eraser button, you fool!

So what'll happen?

That's just it. We don't know. Maaaybe something bad. Maaaybe something good! I guess we'll never know. 'Cause you're going to guard it! You won't touch it, will you?

Oh, how long can trusty Cadet Stimpy hold out? HOW can he possibly resist the diabolical urge to push the button that could erase his very existance? WILL his tortured mind give in to its uncontrollable desires? CAN he withstand the temptation to push the button that even now beckons him ever closer? WILL he succumb to the maddening urge to eradicate history at the mere push of a single button?!
The beautiful, shiny button!
The jolly, candylike button?!
Will he hold out, folks?
CAN he hold out?!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Oooh, mod it with a USB connection so that it launches emacs.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

of course it has to be set for launching doom3!!!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

ooooo red button i wonder if i can make it my control+alt+delete button...(*imageines: crap pc froze *SLAM*)

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

the google translation, cont'd
"In addition the male be completed commodity"

Now that's what I call useful!! hehehe

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Back in the early days of my career (circa 1988), we had a server room stuffed with _lots_ of hardware - Sun server racks, networking racks, etc. etc. (Actually I think they were Apollo racks, if anyone remembers Apollos). Anyway, the power draw of all this equipement was huge, and it all generated a _lot_ of heat, so there was a BIG RED BUTTON near the door, to immediately cut the electric power to the room.

Only once did the entire network go down because one of the sysadmins got so pissed off with corporate ploitics, that he walked into the room and slammed the switch. I'm surprised it didn't happen more often actually, but then again, I wasn't allowed access to the room :->

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Would be pretty cool as a garage door opener.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

useful when the DHS is knocking down your door
rm -rf /