You may not think much about that light switch you flip each morning when you wake up, but switches play a huge role in providing convenience and comfort. From indoor lighting to operating commercial airliners, switches assist in the control of many electronics that are relied upon for daily living. In fact, as the Internet has taken over more and more of the home space through smart technology, connected digital switches are more in demand than ever.
Due to the importance of switches, architects and design professionals should take the time to select the right switch manufacturer when planning for new construction or when retrofitting existing designs. While these components might not seem like a big deal, they can have an impact on the efficiency of a residential or commercial building’s design and on the quality of life experienced by the people in these structures.
Construction Designs of the Past
In the past, receiving indoor light either meant designing a home with a lot of windows or using fuel-burning lanterns. The downside to numerous windows, however, is that too many windows limits privacy and can create fluctuating indoor temperatures. Lanterns, on the other hand, can be dangerous if knocked over and may require a lot of work to maintain a fresh fuel supply.
These limitations on construction design influenced architecture, but they also forced decisions based on the needs of electrical wiring. Given the options available, traditional placement of indoor switches has, until recently, been the most efficient and effective solution.
Modern Switch Placement in the Digital Age
Today most light switches are located on a wall next to the door frame of the interior of a room that requires lighting control. This design is fairly straightforward and efficient, but as Internet-connected switches become mainstream, placement may become less obvious.
Even if a switch is activated by a voice command, it still requires an action to open or close the connection. As such, microphone placement may become more important than the placement of the actual switch itself as the toggle or semiconductors can be hidden inside of a wall.
What may become the norm is to have a room outfitted with microphones that can be activated using keywords or phrases. These, in turn, would activate the on and off functions of a switch. What this does for construction design is removes certain barriers and creates new design options for electricians since toggles no longer need to be installed in easily accessible areas.
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Remote Switch Control Opens New Concerns
Another factor that may affect the implementation of switches in the future is access security. When a digital switch is able to be accessed remotely through the Internet, the potential always exists for malevolent actors to take control.
Because of these concerns,if you’re a construction design professional, you’ll want to look for a switch manufacturer that can meet your needs both in terms of quality and security features.Ideally, your switch manufacturer will already have implemented security checks to prevent unauthorized access.
If these features are not present or are not updated by the manufacturer, you may need to consider these concerns in your design. One way around this is to incorporate two-factor authentication or multiple layers of security behind switch access.
Are Manual Switches Going Away?
Although the future seems bright for Internet-connected switch implementation, manual toggles are not likely to go anywhere anytime soon. These devices offer simplicity in design and function, and due to these factors, they are also easy to maintain and replace.
What the future holds is anyone’s guess, but construction design professionals would be wise to pay close attention to advances in switch development paired with connected technologies like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. When it comes time to choose a switch manufacturer, digital integration is likely to be all the more important going forward.
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