Hi,
[Amusing that we tend to call the *button* and the *annunciator*
"The Doorbell"! :-/ ]
Anyway...
I'm looking for an unusual idea as to how to implement the
"button" portion of a (home) "doorbell". I.e., the interface
that is presented to the *visitor*.
Note that this need not be electronic. Or, could be some
perversion of an electronic adaptation of a *mechanical*
device.
Goal is to "mess with the heads" of (first-time) callers
(I expect folks who visit often to quickly understand the
mechanism).
Note that actually *knowing* that a visitor is "at the door"
is not an issue -- I can do that a number of different ways.
What I am actually interested in is how the *visitor* thinks
he has to signal his presence.
The sorts of things I've been exploring:
- a "knocker" that is not movable (no "hinge")
- a knocker that is hinged at the *bottom*
- a knocker that "fights back"
- a knocker that "makes no noise"
- a knocker that FALLS OFF when actuated
- a "button" that you *pull* (Addam's Family)
- a button that isn't "pushable"
- a *group* of buttons ("which one do I press??")
- a numeric keypad ("what do I *type*??")
- a telephone *dial* ("WTF??")
- a coin slot (or dollar bill validator! :> )
- a big red "HAL" eye
- "In case of Emergency, break glass" (with LEXAN :> )
etc. (I've heard some REALLY off-the-wall ideas that I won't even
mention, here :> )
[Remember, I am not interested in how you would *sense* the
visitor's action -- that's typically easy]
I.e., the point is to force first-time visitors (e.g., solicitors)
to pause and have to think about how to proceed -- set them back
on their heels, momentarily. ("regulars" won't think twice about
any scheme I come up with AFTER their first encounter)
So, how would you "confound" someone interacting with your
door for the first time?
Doorbell "button"
Started by ●February 22, 2015
Reply by ●February 22, 20152015-02-22
On 2/22/2015 9:12 PM, Don Y wrote:> Hi, > > [Amusing that we tend to call the *button* and the *annunciator* > "The Doorbell"! :-/ ] > > Anyway... > > I'm looking for an unusual idea as to how to implement the > "button" portion of a (home) "doorbell". I.e., the interface > that is presented to the *visitor*. > > Note that this need not be electronic. Or, could be some > perversion of an electronic adaptation of a *mechanical* > device. > > Goal is to "mess with the heads" of (first-time) callers > (I expect folks who visit often to quickly understand the > mechanism). > > Note that actually *knowing* that a visitor is "at the door" > is not an issue -- I can do that a number of different ways. > What I am actually interested in is how the *visitor* thinks > he has to signal his presence. > > The sorts of things I've been exploring: > - a "knocker" that is not movable (no "hinge") > - a knocker that is hinged at the *bottom* > - a knocker that "fights back" > - a knocker that "makes no noise" > - a knocker that FALLS OFF when actuated > - a "button" that you *pull* (Addam's Family) > - a button that isn't "pushable" > - a *group* of buttons ("which one do I press??") > - a numeric keypad ("what do I *type*??") > - a telephone *dial* ("WTF??") > - a coin slot (or dollar bill validator! :> ) > - a big red "HAL" eye > - "In case of Emergency, break glass" (with LEXAN :> ) > > etc. (I've heard some REALLY off-the-wall ideas that I won't even > mention, here :> ) > > [Remember, I am not interested in how you would *sense* the > visitor's action -- that's typically easy] > > I.e., the point is to force first-time visitors (e.g., solicitors) > to pause and have to think about how to proceed -- set them back > on their heels, momentarily. ("regulars" won't think twice about > any scheme I come up with AFTER their first encounter) > > So, how would you "confound" someone interacting with your > door for the first time?Pepper spray? Robotic paintball gun? Flamethrower? I get about three random door-to-door callers a year--two Jehovah's Witnesses, whom I always talk orthodox theology to, and one summer-student from NYPIRG whom I talk liberty and evidence-based thinking to. Is that really a big issue in your nabe, or are you just being an old coot? ;) Cheers Phil Hobbs -- Dr Philip C D Hobbs Principal Consultant ElectroOptical Innovations LLC Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics 160 North State Road #203 Briarcliff Manor NY 10510 hobbs at electrooptical dot net http://electrooptical.net
Reply by ●February 22, 20152015-02-22
On 2/22/2015 9:12 PM, Don Y wrote:> Hi, > > [Amusing that we tend to call the *button* and the *annunciator* > "The Doorbell"! :-/ ] > > Anyway... > > I'm looking for an unusual idea as to how to implement the > "button" portion of a (home) "doorbell". I.e., the interface > that is presented to the *visitor*. > > Note that this need not be electronic. Or, could be some > perversion of an electronic adaptation of a *mechanical* > device. > > Goal is to "mess with the heads" of (first-time) callers > (I expect folks who visit often to quickly understand the > mechanism). > > Note that actually *knowing* that a visitor is "at the door" > is not an issue -- I can do that a number of different ways. > What I am actually interested in is how the *visitor* thinks > he has to signal his presence. > > The sorts of things I've been exploring: > - a "knocker" that is not movable (no "hinge") > - a knocker that is hinged at the *bottom* > - a knocker that "fights back" > - a knocker that "makes no noise" > - a knocker that FALLS OFF when actuated > - a "button" that you *pull* (Addam's Family) > - a button that isn't "pushable" > - a *group* of buttons ("which one do I press??") > - a numeric keypad ("what do I *type*??") > - a telephone *dial* ("WTF??") > - a coin slot (or dollar bill validator! :> ) > - a big red "HAL" eye > - "In case of Emergency, break glass" (with LEXAN :> ) > > etc. (I've heard some REALLY off-the-wall ideas that I won't even > mention, here :> ) > > [Remember, I am not interested in how you would *sense* the > visitor's action -- that's typically easy] > > I.e., the point is to force first-time visitors (e.g., solicitors) > to pause and have to think about how to proceed -- set them back > on their heels, momentarily. ("regulars" won't think twice about > any scheme I come up with AFTER their first encounter) > > So, how would you "confound" someone interacting with your > door for the first time?Pepper spray? Robotic paintball gun? Flamethrower? I get about three random door-to-door callers a year--two Jehovah's Witnesses, whom I always talk orthodox theology to, and one summer-student from NYPIRG whom I talk liberty and evidence-based thinking to. Is that really a big issue in your nabe, or are you just being an old coot? ;) Cheers Phil Hobbs -- Dr Philip C D Hobbs Principal Consultant ElectroOptical Innovations LLC Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics 160 North State Road #203 Briarcliff Manor NY 10510 hobbs at electrooptical dot net http://electrooptical.net
Reply by ●February 22, 20152015-02-22
On Sun, 22 Feb 2015 19:12:39 -0700, the renowned Don Y <this@is.not.me.com> wrote:>So, how would you "confound" someone interacting with your >door for the first time?Maybe a trompe l'oeil of some kind? Or a screen with a CAPTCHA? https://wereallmadinhere.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/keep-off-trompe-l-oeil.jpg http://www.couturedeco.com/691-1521-thickbox/emergency-exit-trompe-l-oeil.jpg Best regards, Spehro Pefhany -- "it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward" speff@interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com
Reply by ●February 22, 20152015-02-22
On Sun, 22 Feb 2015 19:12:39 -0700, Don Y <this@is.not.me.com> wrote:>So, how would you "confound" someone interacting with your >door for the first time?Clever. My office doesn't have a doorbell or button. Few offices do. So, I have a sign "Yell for Service" which substitutes nicely. Also, my posted hours is a sign I found proclaiming "I don't do mornings". This also acts as a filter for potential customers that fail to read or understand such obvious instructions and are therefore not candidates for my services. For a doorbell, I suggest a pressure transducer, that measures the pressure, duration, and frequency of the button pressings. It should also be possible to add a quick reading pulse oxymeter and pulse rate counter with the inclusion of red and IR LED's. Fuzzy logic computation should offer an indication of the state of mind of the visitor, which would be used to decide if you want to greet the visitor, or escape out the back door. With a historical database of button pressings and visitor names, it should be possible to identify the visitor. Drivel: I recently discovered a few back issues of Make Magazine. <http://makezine.com> Initially, I was amazed at the highly innovative designs and ideas in the magazine. Why didn't I think of those great ideas? Then, I realized what was happening. The magazine is devoted to those that would automate and computerize (usually with an Arduino board) common devices that no respectable market research organization would consider sellable or even desirable. Does the world really need a programmable flashlight, kids kaleidoscope, or in this case doorbell? -- Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558
Reply by ●February 22, 20152015-02-22
Phil Hobbs <pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net> Wrote in message:> On 2/22/2015 9:12 PM, Don Y wrote: >> Hi, >> >> [Amusing that we tend to call the *button* and the *annunciator* >> "The Doorbell"! :-/ ] >> >> Anyway... >> >> I'm looking for an unusual idea as to how to implement the >> "button" portion of a (home) "doorbell". I.e., the interface >> that is presented to the *visitor*. >> >> Note that this need not be electronic. Or, could be some >> perversion of an electronic adaptation of a *mechanical* >> device. >> >> Goal is to "mess with the heads" of (first-time) callers >> (I expect folks who visit often to quickly understand the >> mechanism). >> >> Note that actually *knowing* that a visitor is "at the door" >> is not an issue -- I can do that a number of different ways. >> What I am actually interested in is how the *visitor* thinks >> he has to signal his presence. >> >> The sorts of things I've been exploring: >> - a "knocker" that is not movable (no "hinge") >> - a knocker that is hinged at the *bottom* >> - a knocker that "fights back" >> - a knocker that "makes no noise" >> - a knocker that FALLS OFF when actuated >> - a "button" that you *pull* (Addam's Family) >> - a button that isn't "pushable" >> - a *group* of buttons ("which one do I press??") >> - a numeric keypad ("what do I *type*??") >> - a telephone *dial* ("WTF??") >> - a coin slot (or dollar bill validator! :> ) >> - a big red "HAL" eye >> - "In case of Emergency, break glass" (with LEXAN :> ) >> >> etc. (I've heard some REALLY off-the-wall ideas that I won't even >> mention, here :> ) >> >> [Remember, I am not interested in how you would *sense* the >> visitor's action -- that's typically easy] >> >> I.e., the point is to force first-time visitors (e.g., solicitors) >> to pause and have to think about how to proceed -- set them back >> on their heels, momentarily. ("regulars" won't think twice about >> any scheme I come up with AFTER their first encounter) >> >> So, how would you "confound" someone interacting with your >> door for the first time? > > Pepper spray? Robotic paintball gun? Flamethrower? > > I get about three random door-to-door callers a year--two Jehovah's > Witnesses, whom I always talk orthodox theology to, and one > summer-student from NYPIRG whom I talk liberty and evidence-based > thinking to. >Why not talk evidence-based thinking to the Jehovah's Witnesses? -- ----Android NewsGroup Reader---- http://usenet.sinaapp.com/
Reply by ●February 22, 20152015-02-22
On 2/22/2015 9:12 PM, Don Y wrote:> Hi, > > [Amusing that we tend to call the *button* and the *annunciator* > "The Doorbell"! :-/ ] > > Anyway... > > I'm looking for an unusual idea as to how to implement the > "button" portion of a (home) "doorbell". I.e., the interface > that is presented to the *visitor*. > > Note that this need not be electronic. Or, could be some > perversion of an electronic adaptation of a *mechanical* > device. > > Goal is to "mess with the heads" of (first-time) callers > (I expect folks who visit often to quickly understand the > mechanism). > > Note that actually *knowing* that a visitor is "at the door" > is not an issue -- I can do that a number of different ways. > What I am actually interested in is how the *visitor* thinks > he has to signal his presence. > > The sorts of things I've been exploring: > - a "knocker" that is not movable (no "hinge") > - a knocker that is hinged at the *bottom* > - a knocker that "fights back" > - a knocker that "makes no noise" > - a knocker that FALLS OFF when actuated > - a "button" that you *pull* (Addam's Family) > - a button that isn't "pushable" > - a *group* of buttons ("which one do I press??") > - a numeric keypad ("what do I *type*??") > - a telephone *dial* ("WTF??") > - a coin slot (or dollar bill validator! :> ) > - a big red "HAL" eye > - "In case of Emergency, break glass" (with LEXAN :> ) > > etc. (I've heard some REALLY off-the-wall ideas that I won't even > mention, here :> ) > > [Remember, I am not interested in how you would *sense* the > visitor's action -- that's typically easy] > > I.e., the point is to force first-time visitors (e.g., solicitors) > to pause and have to think about how to proceed -- set them back > on their heels, momentarily. ("regulars" won't think twice about > any scheme I come up with AFTER their first encounter) > > So, how would you "confound" someone interacting with your > door for the first time?Push button/knocker/whatever mounted above the top of the door. Ed
Reply by ●February 22, 20152015-02-22
On 2/22/2015 7:42 PM, Phil Hobbs wrote:>> So, how would you "confound" someone interacting with your >> door for the first time? > > Pepper spray? Robotic paintball gun? Flamethrower?Goal isn't to harm them. Rather, "confound"/confuse. Force them to expend more effort than they had originally (subconsciously) planned. "Set them back on their heels". Sort of like having NO outgoing message on your answering machine... [Recall, we also have *desired* visitors so flamethrower would probably not be seen as a friendly reception!]> I get about three random door-to-door callers a year--two Jehovah's Witnesses, > whom I always talk orthodox theology to, and one summer-student from NYPIRG > whom I talk liberty and evidence-based thinking to. > > Is that really a big issue in your nabe, or are you just being an old coot? ;)On average, the "bell" gets rung probably 6 or 8 times a week. Mail carrier with an oversized package or something that has to be "signed for"; ditto for FedEx or UPS. Neighbors dropping by for a visit. *Old* neighbors or "winter visitors" who've come back to town. etc. But, all of these folks are "regulars" (even the mail carrier, UPS and FedEx folks). However, at least one "random" (unwelcome?) visitor each week. Someone wanting to sell you yard care service, replacement windows, recoat the roof, ask if they can harvest seeds from the wildflowers, tell us they'll be replacing the water/electric/gas meter/feed, ask if we've seen any "suspicious activity" in the neighborhood (e.g., cops following up on a home invasion, break in, etc.), paint the house, etc. The JW/LDS'ers have basically gone away, over the years. But, the "solicitors" are perennial...
Reply by ●February 22, 20152015-02-22
On 2/22/2015 8:01 PM, Spehro Pefhany wrote:> On Sun, 22 Feb 2015 19:12:39 -0700, the renowned Don Y > <this@is.not.me.com> wrote: > >> So, how would you "confound" someone interacting with your >> door for the first time? > > Maybe a trompe l'oeil of some kind? Or a screen with a CAPTCHA? > > https://wereallmadinhere.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/keep-off-trompe-l-oeil.jpg > > http://www.couturedeco.com/691-1521-thickbox/emergency-exit-trompe-l-oeil.jpgThose would be too easily "recognized" and "prepared for" (psychologically). I want something that has the visitor already committed to his (mindless) approach to the door -- only to discover that something isn't as he *expected*. E.g., the trivial case is to remove the "doorbell" button. The absence of a knocker *and* the button usually causes folks to stumble -- but only momentarily. They resort to knocking with a fist. Something like a door knocker that they lift, AS USUAL, but that *latches* in that up position would be more "unexpected". Esp if it can't easily be pushed back down! Or, one that falls off IN THEIR HAND ("Oh, shit! I broke it!!") Parabolic mirrors *might* work to create a displaced illusion of a *real* button. But, getting that right regardless of the person's stance would be difficult. (and, what do you do at night?)
Reply by ●February 23, 20152015-02-23
On 2/22/2015 8:35 PM, ehsjr wrote:>> I.e., the point is to force first-time visitors (e.g., solicitors) >> to pause and have to think about how to proceed -- set them back >> on their heels, momentarily. ("regulars" won't think twice about >> any scheme I come up with AFTER their first encounter) >> >> So, how would you "confound" someone interacting with your >> door for the first time? > > Push button/knocker/whatever mounted above the top of the door.That poses a problem for "desired" visitors. And, would be too easy for a "cold caller" to "dismiss" -- not invest any time trying to figure out *how* to signal his presence, etc. E.g., something like a coin slot immediately *suggests* what is expected of the caller. But, EVERYONE would immediately dismiss that: "No way am I going to *pay* to visit this guy!" They would then go looking for the "no payment required" option... which doesn't exist! Eventually, returning to the coin slot. And, inevitably coming to the "clever" (i.e., incredibly obvious, uninspired, etc.) solution of "just knocking". At which point, you can automatically illuminate the sign above the coin slot that says "please deposit 25c..." Check and Mate. :-/ [of course, you could immediately refund their deposit *if* they make that leap of faith!]
