Eject Powerstrip concept gives your foot a workout

Apparently, traditional powerstrips are in dire need of an overhaul, as the Eject Powerstrip is just one of many replacement concepts we've seen float by in the past several months. Nevertheless, this brilliantly engineered design essentially allows users to eject plugs leading to devices not currently in use in order to keep consumption of "vampire power" to a minimum. Additionally, any ejected socket is automatically turned off in order to keep your meddling youngsters safe from electrocution. Now, if only we weren't so ashamed about leaving our current strips out in the open, we'd really be infatuated with this idea.

[Via GizmoWatch]

[tekdroid @ Mar 17th 2008 12:09PM]

nice if the mechanism is reliable.

More importantly: look at the spacing between power points. That's what I call accommodating for fat plug packs :)

If it ever hits the market, I suspect the price will be ridiculous, meaning that lazyness and low cost wins the day (again).

[tekdroid @ Mar 17th 2008 12:18PM]

another thought:
Accidental steppings could be a potential problem. An individual lock on each pedal would be nice, for optional locking.

But overall I see it as a potentially expensive solution for what most people view as a nonexistent problem to begin with (even though idle transformer power use and so forth is a problem).

A simple programmable electrical timer I think is a far better idea, and almost definitely would cost far less than this thing.

Real power buttons on most appliances would mitigate the bigger problem of idle and sleep power use, too.

[nd @ Mar 17th 2008 12:36PM]

How about not ejecting the plug...that seems excessive. Just have the little pedals be switches.

[tekdroid @ Mar 17th 2008 12:56PM]

nd @ Mar 17th 2008 12:36PM sez:

How about not ejecting the plug...that seems excessive. Just have the little pedals be switches.
----
Yeah. Far better idea. Big switches. Or simply traditional small switched powerboards (selling cheapish everywhere) or touchswitches (two soft taps or a swiping motion to turn off, for example) for the really lazy and/or disabled.

After all, re-plugging things in goes against the "people are lazy, let's make it easy" kind of thing the design concept wordage speaks about on the link, but they fail to mention plugging things back in working against the ease-of-unplug.

[monkfishbandana @ Mar 17th 2008 2:45PM]

@ tekdroid

Whoa. Hold on there, Skippy. I believe that 'nd' was just pointing out that it's pointless to eject them, as a switch would make them easier to turn back on again.

But, if you want to make your "people are lazy, let's make it easy" argument stick, it would help if you spelt (or spelled, in the US, to avoid comments from the pedants) the word 'sez' correctly. It's 'says'.

[tekdroid @ Mar 17th 2008 11:17PM]

monkfishbandana, thanks for the spelling tip, I was wrong all these years ;)

I was talking about switches, if you read what I said. Not unplugging. But mentioned touch switches and/or regular switches instead of unplugging.

Not sure why you even responded like that. The article states ease of unplug, but doesn't talk about ease of plugging back in being an issue with their contraption (which it obviously would be). A switch (of various flavours) obviously makes that unnecessary, which is what I was on about.

Not even sure why you responded like that unless I confused you?

[A33A @ Mar 17th 2008 12:10PM]

Ha ha lol.
Another useless gadget that seems good at first but then the flaws show.
lol

[NHAnimator @ Mar 17th 2008 12:48PM]

Maybe instead of just making these types of comments, you could offer suggestions to improve the "flaws" like the ND and tekdroid did above?

Or are you just too busy amusing yourself?

[FTY @ Mar 17th 2008 1:07PM]

@NHAnimator

How about using ...hmm... hands for instance.
Usually what you plug in, you don't unplug every other minute. Damn I don't know if I ever unplugged something, when I'm not changing stuff (ie replacing an old TV with a new one). For everything else (storms outside etc.) there a power switch which shuts down the whole strip.

That said, the europlug can sometimes be an arse to pull out especially on the Type-F German plug with two strong springs holding it in place, but the Type-B NEMA 5-15 which is in use in the USA is almost falling out by itself, so really no need for pedal powered ejects.

[Chris Macdonald @ Mar 17th 2008 8:15PM]

aand you said ha/lol a total of 4 times in that comment...


lol

[Zak @ Mar 17th 2008 12:13PM]

If only there were some way to make that work with the Rock Band drum kit. Then I could pretend to be the drummer from Def Leppard!

[cristiana @ Mar 17th 2008 12:13PM]

The device does not seem well thought out, it seems way too easy to accidentally eject a plug.

[kyle allen @ Mar 17th 2008 3:41PM]

where the heck do u keep your power strip? in the middle of the room?

[computer.dude.28 @ Mar 17th 2008 5:06PM]

@ kyle allen

Maybe he keeps it under his desk like most of us. Maybe he also puts his feet under his desk like most of us. See the problem yet?

[computer.dude.28 @ Mar 17th 2008 5:06PM]

@ kyle allen

Maybe he keeps it under his desk like most of us. Maybe he also puts his feet under his desk like most of us. See the problem yet?

[computer.dude.28 @ Mar 17th 2008 5:08PM]

wtf now I didn't even click the button twice or anything come ON blogsmith or weblogs or whatever.

[BorgKing @ Mar 17th 2008 12:20PM]

Shouldn't you have an Airport Express plugged into this. There has to be an Apple connection here somewhere!

A story without Apple is not a story at all - Engadget rule #1.

[Bob @ Mar 17th 2008 12:30PM]

Grow up buddy.

[gaforces @ Mar 17th 2008 12:27PM]

I wouldn't want the plug ejected, just need 1 foot switch to turn off the whole strip. This device would not be practical for lazy people (or people with bad backs) as they would have to stoop over to re-plug-in everything.

[mxte @ Mar 17th 2008 12:33PM]

When I look at this, I'm affraid I will kick it in the middle of my work and unplug my pc in the middle of something very imoportant.

It should be named "Murphy's law powerstrip".

[Seoultrain @ Mar 17th 2008 12:34PM]

How about an IR dongle to work with a harmony remote, so it can detach power without having to flip those switches?

or does that already exist?

[Sean D. @ Mar 17th 2008 12:37PM]

"As far as repair is concerned, the easy assemblage required to put together Eject Power Strip means that it could easily be repaired. In the long run, additional foot pedals could be purchased to replace damaged or worn foot pedals, hence extending the product's lifecycle."

... additional foot pedals could be purchased? C'mon... either make something that lasts, or stand behind your poorly conceived product enough to replace broken parts for free! My current powerstrips have at least 7 plugs and have lasted me for years (some decades) without the need for replacing parts.

[Stephen @ Mar 17th 2008 12:39PM]

Why have the "eject" mechanism if pushing the footpedal turns off the plug anyway? That is incredibly stupid.

[JC @ Mar 17th 2008 12:42PM]

Nice try, but they should have thought a little harder. I don't unplug my devices not because the plugs are hard to pull, but because I am too lazy to reach down to grab the plug. The eject idea works for unplugging, but then I would have to reach down to plug it back in. If instead of ejecting, the pedals on this thing would simply turn on/off the outlet, I would consider it.

[tom @ Mar 17th 2008 12:45PM]

Four outlets?? I need something like this w/ 20 outlets.

At my computer table, i am running two power bar
computer
2 screen
router
dsl modem
speaker
all-in-one printer
desk light
cordless phone
a VOIP box
mouse charger
cell phone charger (sometimes)

[Reader @ Mar 17th 2008 6:05PM]

Nice to know you have a lot of stuff to plug in (and what they are)...

[Skemo @ Mar 17th 2008 12:49PM]

I love how the flier says, "enjoyably unplug their devices" Nothing says fun like stopping the madness that is vampire power.

[JC @ Mar 17th 2008 12:50PM]

I like the idea of turning off individual outlets. I can't poweroff the whole strip because I need some things on and some things off at different times. And I don't want a powerstrip for each device.

[murray @ Mar 17th 2008 1:04PM]

Um... switches, anyone?

For some reason, the USA is afraid of switches. In other countries, like Australia, almost all wall outlets have switches on them, and most power strips also have individually switched outlets. This has pissed me off ever since I moved to the States.

I think putting a little switch on each outlet is a little more practical than a huge foot pedal.

[Halkonlar @ Mar 17th 2008 1:14PM]

Now, remove the pedals and make it voice activated, and you might just have me on board!

[Lesz8986 @ Mar 17th 2008 1:25PM]

Would the plugs shoot out? Slam hard on the pedal and watch it hit a co-worker’s leg. Workman's Comp!

[MrGuru @ Mar 17th 2008 1:35PM]

america just got lazier!!!!

[Karl @ Mar 17th 2008 1:43PM]

Not to pile on, but it also has to be pointed out that given the orientation of the plugs, any decently sized "wall wart" transformer would overhang and block the pedal...

Next time spend 5 minutes thinking about how you would actually use a product before doing the final render in your CAD program.

[TavisJohn @ Mar 17th 2008 1:52PM]

If you are dissabled and can't reach the outlet... The eject footpedal does make life easier to get unplugged... But how do you plug into it?

[crho85 @ Mar 17th 2008 2:05PM]

I am assuming by dissabled you mean in a wheel chair. So if you are dissabled how will you use your feet to eject the plug?

[TavisJohn @ Mar 17th 2008 2:12PM]

Not all dissabled people are in a wheelchair. Some just can't bend over, or use walkers and such to get arround. So they can eject it just fine. But how are they susposed to bed over and plug into the strip?

And even people in wheelchairs could push the eject button, using reaching devices and such.

[engadget @ Mar 17th 2008 3:39PM]

Not to mention not all people in wheelchairs have total paralysis in their legs.

[Juaquin @ Mar 17th 2008 2:42PM]

But I still have to crawl under my desk to plug something in...

[Barry @ Mar 17th 2008 2:43PM]

I use my feet to unplug things all the time. I don't need any fancy pedals. And when I want them plugged in I just step on them. Now that I think of it, that could be why I go through so many cords...

[Pauan @ Mar 17th 2008 8:04PM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spelt :)

[kyle allen @ Mar 17th 2008 3:41PM]

this is a heck of a good idea! i dont get what everyones problem is! i unplug stuff from my power strip all the time and its annoying as heck when theyre in there really tight. i use two laptops so im alwais unpluging them and i usually have to grab the power strip with one hand and work the plug out with the other hand, i would love one of these.

[Rainier @ Mar 17th 2008 5:26PM]

Which one is the "Any Pedal"?

[Mymaclife @ Mar 17th 2008 6:05PM]

Talk about solving a problem that doesn't exist, these guys should get out more.

[Sirius @ Mar 17th 2008 8:33PM]

If they made these to supply industrial currents then this would be useful as those safety cutoff devices. Many wood/metal work machines have them, but building it into a powerstrip isn't a bad idea either...

[Pauan @ Mar 17th 2008 8:06PM]

*Sigh* Stupid system. That was a response to comment #11061395.

[Sirius @ Mar 17th 2008 8:37PM]

@Pauan
"That was a response to comment #11061395."
What was? :P

[Sirius @ Mar 17th 2008 8:38PM]

Okok I give up I give up!! Mercy! Mercy!!

[tjn @ Mar 18th 2008 12:36PM]

I couldn't work out why anyone would invent something so excessive until I talked to some Americans and found out that their wall sockets don't have switches (like the UK and New Zealand, the only places I've lived).

Seriously people, electrical switches are simple, cheap and reliable. On the wall or on the a power strip its a much better idea than constantly unplugging things.