Visual Voltage clock turns electricity monitoring into art
By Donald Melanson 
posted Sep 14th 2009 4:24PM
posted Sep 14th 2009 4:24PM
Sure you can monitor your home energy use with any number of "useful" and "easily readable" gauges and gadgets, but why settle for straightforwardness when you can have something verging on art? That's the thinking behind the so-called Visual Voltage exhibition created by a group of Swedish designers, anyway, which features this eye-catching clock-like device front and center. As with other energy monitors, it promises to do nothing more than monitor your daily electricity use and let you know when you're using more than you should. Instead of spewing out a series of digits and blinkin' lights, however, this one creates a nifty visualization of your homes daily energy rhythms to attract a bit more attention -- or it will if it ever turns into an actual product, that is. The designers aren't stopping there with the whole "visual voltage" idea tough, and are also showing off a power cord that lights up when in use, and a concept for a set of solar-powered blinds that can absorb energy during the day and provide ambient light at night (check it out after the break).
[Via Engadget German]
[Via Engadget German]
That thing looks AWESOME
Yep, very cool.
"Who'd live in a house like this?".... A lot of geeks, myself included would jump.
Er who are you quoting?
I would, if it's in a beautiful neighborhood.
I would love to have that monitor on my shelf.
"let you know when you're using more than you should"
What is more than I should? Is some environmental goon going to come after me if I use a little bit to much?
If I'm willing to pay to use more electricity than others, I should be allowed to use it. It's not complicated.
More than you should is entirely up to you. This is merely a tool that helps you achieve the goals that you set for yourself by monitoring your consumption patterns.
It is a tool just like how software like Quicken or Mint.com are budgeting tools to help you keep tabs on your spending (or in other words, help you know when you spend more than you should).
Don't go looking for fascism where none exists.
I have nothing against the product. I had it, I would try to see what I can make the clock show with different uses.
I don't like the language that there some limit to how much electricity I can use.
Dont be daft, no one is telling you how much you can or carn't use, i assume its user set targets
Even if one man could afford an entire city's electric bill, he probably shouldn't use that much. We should all try to be a little bit greener.
Here's some more things that were invented by Visual Voltage, including the clock and curtain seen above, as well as a flower lamp that changes shape depending on how much energy you are using.
http://www.tvlesson.com/mygroup1110.php?GID=1509
I love this.
"useful" and "easily readable" gauges and gadgets, but why settle for straightforwardness when you can have something verging on art?"
Gauges and numbers have so little inherent meaning or emotional value. Visual design, visualizations, and "art" can better communicate how you should feel or react or understand information than devices that spew raw numbers.
I agree. This really isn't much more than a Kill-A-Watt meter, but that extra little bit more of visualization makes a big difference.
This is one of the reasons I enjoy using Mint.com but am bored to tears by software like Quicken. The former is much slicker in the presentation of the same data.
i think they are both great ideas, especially the blind.
dunno about the power cord though. using extra power to show that it is using power? seems even more pointless than standby lights everyone is complaining about that use power to say "im not using power!"the only purpose i can think of is to remind people to unplug things when not in use, but really it should just become the universal standard that products stop draining power when fully charged or turned off...
If this thing makes it to market at a decent price, I'm sure I'll get one. However if you want something today that displays and logs even more information, get a T.E.D. - It's pretty easy to install and use. I love mine.
http://www.theenergydetective.com/index.html
The "lampshade" for drying clothes certainly does "add
a certain type of ambiance to the room." But I'm not sure it's the type of "ambiance" I want...
The "curtain" looks like a woven cotton blanket hanging on the window. I wonder if it's as good at keeping the cold drafts out. As far as its intended purpose, sounds like "glow-in-the-dark" would do the same and be cheaper.
"promises to do nothing more than monitor your daily electricity use"
It also tells you the time, because, you know, it's a clock.
Someone's having an early dinner here...
this thing is awesome..
Brilliant design. This is so cool, as long as it's affordable.
...another device you plug that adds to the energy usage you already want to monitor. I WANT!