Multi-Tab concept elevates power strips to an art form
By Donald Melanson 
posted February 23rd 2010 2:57AM
posted February 23rd 2010 2:57AM
We've seen plenty products both real and imagined that promise to improve on the standard power strip, but few as elegantly designed as this so-called "Multi-Tab" concept from designer Soon Mo Kang. Not only is it modular to accommodate as many plugs as you need, but each module also has its own release mechanism to eject the plug without pulling on it, and it would come with a set of stickers to let you label each plug for minimal confusion. About the only drawback is that it might not be able to handle larger plugs, but that's nothing a little fine-tuning can't fix -- optional brick modules, perhaps? Either way, you likely haven't seen a better video of a power strip than the one after the break.
So the strip pictured goes: Light, Television...battery?
Light, old CRT TV with rabbit ears, new LCD TV... :)
@Michael Pollard I would say......old school Light, old school CRT TV with rabbit ears, notebook charger... :)
Cool idea, but what happens when you change your mind on what you want plugged into each socket? Would be cool if the logo's clipped off. Still though, great innovation.
Concepts are great. But the physical things are much better.
Lets make this happen :)
@mtnDewFTW Yeah. I want!
Nice in theory .. attach a tagged clip to each power cord, then you can just assemble them, lego-style, into a power strip wherever convenient. You can see both what each cord is as well as not having to worry about wasting outlets.
Unfortunately the monkey gets wrenched when you have to move something in the middle and don't want to lose power to everything after it.
This is probably a good practical demonstration of the different advantages of arrays vs linked lists. ;)
@oGMo The video makes the labels appear as stickers, possibly (semi-)permanent. If they were replaced with a different design instead it would take care of that. Also, you wouldn't necessarily have to disconnect that section of the strip to unplug your device. Alternatively, you could just unplug the device in the middle and if you put another device in it's place, you could replace the identifier, if they were separate pieces.
The identifiers could either slip in, like a drawer, tray, or similar, or they could be buttons that simply snapped on.
or...
You could also go crazy with it, and put tiny displays in each modular section. If you just had 1 button, you could cycle through 10 or so, different display images quite easily. These could really be any display type: OLED, LCD, e-ink, LED...
If they were sold by areas of use you could program less images into each one. If one of the modular pieces was for home theater the images could be TV, Stereo, Amp, EQ, etc. If a module was for computer components/Home office, the images programmed in could be Monitor, Tower, Lamp, etc.
I'd like it more if the blocks weren't labeled, if there were a way to lock the bars together so you don't accidentally know them off and for it to automatically know if too much wattage is flowing through, so you don't fires.
@Tiptup300
Ugh. Don't you just hate it when fires?
@CubeGuy FIRE BAD!
@Tiptup300
Guys, try to calm down; contain yourselves. ;)
F I R E !!!
@Tiptup300
1.The labels look like stickers in the video, so they could probably be changed at will.
2.Locking the pieces together, is definitely a good idea.
3.If people plug too many things into their power strip it's their own fault. However, each block could be keyed so that they had to be plugged in a certain order, eventually you would reach the last one and the "daisy chain" would end.
They would have to be keyed so that the end piece was a "skeleton key" and could be plugged in at any time. It would need to work if you were using only 1 other section or if you were using all of them.
Once you decided how many pieces you were going to use, you could then apply the labels to each of the plugs.
Well that's a fair bit of engrish if I do say so myself.
@Tiptup300 Just add overload protection to the unit with the cord. Overload issue solved.
Then make units with the plugs turned sideways. This solves the problem of certain transformers that would otherwise take multiple slots.
Then add a ground connection between units, make them latch together, make real on-off switches, make them have plugs on either side, make the interconnects just standard plugs, ...
and eventually it will be perfect.
I gotta press to release? I thought nowadays power strips decide themself when they are done and shoot...
I like the look of it, but i think the plugs might jam as it is no straight movement when pressing the button? And how about a little on-off switch on every block?
Respect to the designer, but this thing belongs in an art gallery and not under my desk.
Looks like something ArtLebedev would do.
Looks like im gunna tread on it and either electricute myself, or turn off my stereo.
neither is desireable
I like it. I'd definitely consider it if it came to a store near me. I'm loathe to buy things like this on the net.
What's with the surprised faces on the side of the strip?
Looks like an iStrip
From the picture I thought it would rotate individual outlets so you could plug in oversize bricks easily. That would be nice.
@Murphy Mac
Some of the sections should be wider, and connect so that the plug ends up on top, or upside down. Then your wall warts should be fine.
You mean I don't have to step on the strip and pull on the cord anymore?
Its nice . . . but!
It looked to me like they were switches to turn off (or automatically switch off) individual items. That would be more useful.
@joeyjoejo1200
Most devices have their own power buttons/switches.
@drewcp But not everything goes fully off when turned off. Still, it makes more sense to switch the whole strip (or at least some subset of outlets) rather than one at a time.
Interesting concept. Now, to make it useful in the *real* world the designer has to double the width of each module to handle those d*mn wall warts.
@Spiny Norman
If they were sold only online, you could just buy the number of sections you need. They could offer double size "wall wart" outlets as an option. If you had 7 devices to plug in and two were wall warts, you could just order the base, and 5 standard + 2 supersized outlets.
Alternatively, if they were sold at retail, each base could be sold with a default number of standard size pieces and customers could buy "wall wart" sections as needed.
@Spiny Norman
Or even better, they could have another piece that is a 180 degree (rotation in respect to the floor) rotation of one of those units. Then have an alternating pattern of a plug on the front side followed by a plug on the back side. This will keep the plug density while providing ample room for wall warts.
I feel like I would accidentally bump the top or step on it and accidentally abort all of the loose plugs.
i like it... but why is it a concept?
just make it already... it isn't complicated.
by the time they go to market, they'll have competition.
Hype isn't going to make a product like this sell... putting on store shelf's will. (or at the very least, online)
Have a variety of modules. Some with power switches, some where the block is 90° rotated (to have a power adapter on the top instead of the side with the others), some with the outlet itself 90° rotated (for power adapters that go to the side), some that sense when a device is charged and eject it, some that sense power drain and cut off when demand drops (cut off an outlet when the device is turned off). Surge suppressor blocks that have RG6 CATV jacks (uses the strip for a ground). Even blocks on an otherwise AC power strip that has a USB port for device charging.
Honestly, unless it provides back up power (i.e. a UPS), I can't see anyone paying more than $20 for any regular-sized power supply. For most of us, they're hidden under a desk or a bed or somewhere and rarely change configuration.
I have (sort of) found the solution to power bricks blocking too many plugs. I have no idea where I got it but I have a one foot long, grounded, single item extension cord. Just wish I had a few more of them. I have a couple of extra funky wall warts that block two plugs even on my nice power strip with plugs spaced out for normal power bricks.
Bad idea, I'll have to plug them back everytime.
The best thing about labeled power strips is that once the technology is outdated, you feel kinda dumb having an empty outlet that you refuse to plug anything else into. I just happen to still use my Laserdisc player (like twice a year if that), so my 15 year old power strip is fully occupied when I feel like plugging it back in.
but I don't really need any stinkin' labels on my freakin' power strip.
Label your damn cords next to the plug. Masking tape and a damn Sharpie. If it uses an AC adaptor, even easier, just label the brick.