With these standards set, it is now easier for everyone to understand which way the button is on and which is off. Sleep-state symbol: Crescent moon Closing words However, this symbol did not catch on much with the general public. Using this control would put the device in a low-powered state. The IEEE then introduced a new shape for the “sleep” state, the crescent moon. They also introduced a new symbol to illustrate the “sleep” state. However, later the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) intervened and said that this symbol is to be used for single buttons to toggle between the off state and the on state of a device. Initially, this symbol was used for the “sleep” state, where the power is not fully cut off to the device and is in a low power state. It is depicted by a broken circle with a line in between the two broken ends. This one is the most common symbol used all over the world. IEC 5010 button symbol IEC 60417-5009 – Not fully disconnected state When the button is pushed, the device is powered on and when the button is released, the device powers off. A simple line within a circle depicts the symbol. This symbol is usually found on the buttons used to turn off a device and switch it on by toggling them. IEC 5007 & IEC 5008 rocker switch IEC 60417-5010 – Temporary On state This, too, can be found on rocker switches. This standard is used for the power-off symbol, which is a simple “O.” Using this control will mark the device as “off,” and there will be no power. IEC 5007 & IEC 5008 rocker switch IEC 60417-5008 – Complete power off state This standard is used for the power-on symbol, which is a simple “I.” This is to mark a button or a toggle switch (rocker switch) to indicate that it is in a fully powered state. Understanding the different power button symbolsĮven though the IEC had agreed to use certain symbols, then why are there variations in it? This is because they had standardized different symbols for different types of buttons. Using the “I” and “O” symbols, it would no longer be a problem for the individuals to know which way is on and which way is off, regardless of which part of the Earth you belong to. In contrast, many other parts of the world have adopted the opposite, i.e., up-position for off and the down-position for on. This factor was important to consider as the light switches in the US are in the up-position for on and down-position for off. Moreover, it would not be confusing for the people even if the button was turned upside-down or rotated any-which-way. The binary number system was understood by almost everyone worldwide and meant the same in every language. The “I” represents the binary 1, meaning on, whereas the “O” represents the binary 0, meaning off. The IEC decided that the symbols to be used for power on and power off would be “I” and “O,” respectively. How the I and O power button symbols were created In other words, a new “standard” was to be implemented, which was to be followed by everyone. To avoid any mishaps, an international committee known as the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) was handed the responsibility to create a symbol that could be understood by everyone around the world. It could also get a little confusing, and a person could have difficulty reading the signs, even if they knew English. It would have been much simpler to write On/Off on the buttons, but not everyone around the world understands English. There was a need to develop a universal sign that could be understood by everyone around the world. It could be dangerous when a person does not know what the function of the button is, and they could accidentally power it on or off that could result in someone getting injured. Well, for one reason, it’s obvious that it was necessary to mark the power buttons so that a person will know what function that particular button will do. Why is a symbol necessary for power buttons?
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