Unconventional Switch - Energy Drinks

 

                Unconventional Switch: Energy Drinks

 For our switch, we decided to base it on one of our member's love for caffeinated beverages. Power is drawn from a nine volt battery into a breadboard. Two monster energy drinks are then connected with alligator clips to the breadboard, and a physical connection between the cans makes the green LED turn on. While this concept might seemingly have no practical applicability in the real world, a switch like this could perhaps be used in a vending machine or a similar device, as it can detect when two cans are in contact with each other; however, it's still more of a creative design.

             

 

   
    

Unconventional Switch: The Chopstick Chop-Switch

By Electronics Team 10: Gary Hazelgren & Briah Bellamy

    For our unconventional switch, we wanted to use a concept with an object that could test other objects of their conductivity rather than just using one's own for power. Instead of pulling out the old electronic conductivity (EC) meter, what if we could, for example, use chopsticks to test it? Our design uses two chopsticks with wrapped on one end in aluminum foil, one 9V battery, one breadboard, one green LED, one 100 Ohm resistor, four male-to-female alligator clips.

    The chopsticks function practically like an analog EC meter, using their touch to measure how conductive various materials are: The LED light will light up if an object the chopstick touches is conductive enough for an electrical current to go through, and will stay off otherwise, making it an interesting way to learn the electrical properties of different things!

Team 18 - Unconventional Switch (No Phone Distractions!)

As soon as it came time to start brainstorming ideas for what unconventional switch we should make, our first ideas kept circling back into something that could be useful, help someone be productive or encourage them to stay focused on a task.

We know how easy it is to get distracted by all the notifications and colorful apps on our phones so we wanted to make a switch to help combat that. For our switch, you set it on your desk or workstation area, and then set your phone on top of the pad covered in tinfoil. When the phone is set on the pad, a red LED light turns on, and it sends a signal to pin A2 on the Circuit Playground. Then, a delay sends a signal to pin A1, which is connected to the green LED light. The goal of this switch is to help the user stay focused on their work, encouraging them to not pick up their phone as long as the green LED is off. After about 30 minutes, the green LED light will turn on, which lets the user know they are allowed to take a break and check their phone if they wish. But, the user will need to be careful with getting distracted for too long. Our switch aims to help prevent that, and keep the user focused on their task and getting work done.

Unconventional Switch, The Backpack Alarm

For our switch we used the zipper of a backpack. The idea of the device would be an anti-theft device. When 2 zippers on the backpack are connected the device would remain off. However, if the backpack were to be opened the 2 zippers would break the circuit sounding the alarm or lighting a light to alert the owner of the backpack that someone has unzipped it. When the zippers are closed the 2 zippers would barely touch so all it would take to alert the owner of the backpack is a slight unzipping of the backpack. You could also design a switch to the arm and disarm the device so that the real owner of the device would now sound their own alarm.

Unconventional Switch: There's No Place Light Home

The switch here uses 5V power using the Adafruit Circuit playground limiting the voltage coming from a mini-USB cable. The “switch” consists of two shoes with foil wrapped around the heels. When the heels touch, they LEDs on the shoes light up. This device provides excellent feedback for all those people who feel stuck in the world of Oz, or any other realm that can be exited via clicking heels. To encourage safety and the longevity of the product, we have limited the lights by adding a 100 Ohm resistor to prevent the lights from glowing too brightly and burning out.  After all, who knows when someone’s friend is prone to burning?
Note: Product may put user at increased risk of flying monkey attacks.

 

They say that necessity is the mother of invention, and our group’s switch embodies that idea. We had an excellent idea where we’d draw a schematic of our switch with a conductive pencil, then have that schematic connect the wires to make the LED turn on. Unfortunately, we lost the pencil we were going to use, so we had to improvise. Luckily for us, we had the perfect substitute: a banana.

Our switch works as follows: We have the battery, connected to a resistor, connected to one set of diode that we poked through a notebook, unconnected to the next set, which is also poked through said notebook, which is plugged into a breadboard, which is connected to an LED, which is then connected back to ground. Then, we place the banana on top of the two diodes, which completes the circuit and lights up the LED. Then, to turn off the LED, you simply pick up the banana.

While our switch might not have been what we initially planned, I think we did well. We might have slipped on a metaphorical banana peel when we lost the pencil, but luckily all we needed was that banana.

Electronics Team 22 Unconventional Switch - Magnets

 

For our original switch concept we wanted to start with trying to decide on a material that was first and foremost conductive and could easily be separated and connected again so we decided on the idea of using two circular magnets. From there we tried to see if there was a higher abstract representation that we could build out of the idea of two circular magnets coming together. We worked through a few different explorations about things coming together and landed on the idea of eyes being over the magnets that come together when the magnets are connected. This idea allows us to make use of the circular shape of the magnets to help sell the imagery of eyes with the physical magnets acting as a sort of frame for eyes to peek through. When the eyes are together they form a connected vision with the magnets completing the circuit. Once this circuit/connected vision is active and “seeing” the LED lights up to reflect that idea.

Paperclip Puzzle

 The core component of the switch is a custom 3D-printed maze, which acts as a physical puzzle for creating an electrical connection. The tactile and playful design invites users to engage physically with the switch, treating it more like a puzzle or toy rather than a traditional functional component. To complete the circuit, users must bend a standard paper clip to fit within the maze, forming a precise contact point between two points. The circuit receives 5 volts from the Circuit Playground Express. Two 100-ohm resistors are connected in series, providing a combined 200 ohms of resistance to protect the LED from excessive current. If the paper clip bridges the gap in the maze, current flows through the blue wire to the LED and returns to the ground, illuminating the light and completing the circuit.

 

Unconventional Switch: Cooking Light!

    Have you ever been cooking late at night and wondered if something was missing? Something fun and engaging that makes dinner prep just a little bit more entertaining. Well fear not, for we have a solution! With the Cooking Light, you'll have a small LED that lights up every time you touch your spatula with your pot - super FUN!

    We decided to use a spatula and pot as our unconventional 'switch' for our project. We used only the breadboard, resistor, and required clips to run the power from the Circuit Playground to the pot itself. Instead of using the breadboard for both positive and negative, we decided to run our power backward, through the switch itself. Once contact is made, the circuit will complete and the LED will power on. It will then switch off once contact is no longer made.

Unconventional Switch: Tappity Tap

    Life can sometimes be boring, you go to work and have to endure a long meeting, you have to sit through a long lecture. A good way to entertain yourself has always been tapping your pencil or pen on your notebook. Even that has started to get boring, so wouldn’t it be nice if a little light popped up to keep you entertained?

Our project was simple but effective, we attached our power source to a metal plate and our power connection directly to pencil lead. Using the fact that both the plate and the graphite of the lead are conductive, and our 100 ohm resistor lowered the power to not overly excessive for our light we could power the light by simply tapping our pencil lead against the plate. A fun activity to distract yourself while mindless drool goes on in the background, now including a light show.

Unconventional Script: Team 13 - Bad Memory

 

For our unconventional switch, the first thing that came to our minds for a conductive object was a can of beans. It didn’t work. So, we upgraded to a spoon in a can of sausages. The spoon conducts the electricity and turns on the LED when it is inside our can. This unconventional switch may seem silly or useless, but it is the beginning of even greatening things. An LED that lights up when trash cans are full to remind you to take out the trash. Sinks that light up when there's still dishes left inside. Overall, it shows how you can make custom switches that help those with bad memories.  

 

Unconventional Switch - Magic Potion

 

This device combines the fact that salt water is conductive with the concept that shaking things is fun. The switch was constructed by dangling two wires into a semi-sealed plastic container with a small amount of very salty water. When left alone, the wires do not both touch the water and leave the switch is open. Shaking the container so that the moving water touches the exposed end of both wires closes the switch.
This switch connects to materiality by encouraging the user to pick it up and continuously engage with the container and water in order to activate the light. The label on the container draws the user in to play, but the imperfect seal creates a layer of risk that overly vigorous play may break the switch (and/or get water everywhere).

Unconventional Switch - Fist bump

Now, we all know what a fist bump is; but what if you could make it even better. That is what drove our unconventional switch design. Imagine this: you and your friends each have rings and whenever you fist bump they tend to clank together, no big deal. But we thought we could use this as a trigger, in this example it’s just to light up a simple LED but imagine the things you could connect them to. You could have a bro alarm that goes off whenever you fist bump to let people know you’re bros. You could have a lock that only opens when you guys fist bump, the possibilities are endless.

Unconventional Switch - Charging Cable

 One of the largest first-world problems that plagues our nation is unreliable chargers. We’ve all had it happen: you place your phone to charge after a long day of work, fall asleep with it at 16%, then wake up to find out it failed to charge in the slightest. But argh! There’s way too many variables to find out why this happened! It could’ve been the charging block, the charging cable, or the phone itself. This device aims to fix that, and to test those pesky charging devices in the process.

This unconventional switch requires a 9V battery, several alligator clips, a breadboard, one 100 ohm resistor, a charging cable, a charging block, and an LED light. We connected the 100 ohm resistor and the charging cable to the positive side, and the charging block with the LED to the ground. If both pieces are functional and the opposite end of the charging cable is placed on the connected plug’s prong, the LED lights up.

Unconventional Switch - Belt Buckle

Stanley Freihofer

Jordan Norton

 

Our electronic switch reimagines a belt buckle as an interactive input device, blending fashion with circuitry. The buckle itself functions as a switch, completing an electrical circuit when fastened. This action powers an LED light on a breadboard, with an Arduino Circuit Playground—plugged into a laptop—serving as the power source.

The materiality of the project is central to its function. The metal belt buckle acts as a conductive switch, utilizing its mechanical movement to open or close the circuit. This transforms a routine action—buckling a belt—into an intentional electrical interaction. By incorporating wearable elements into circuit design, our switch challenges conventional interfaces and highlights how everyday materials can be repurposed for electronic interactivity.

https://youtu.be/mpfVGj01_EI

Unconventional Switch - Custom Light Show

 Group 9 : Howard De Ausen and Jessica Harrison

The concept behind our switch is aligned with aesthetic inquiry. We wanted to create a visual stimuli for an action that already creates an audio response, therefore adding another layer of depth to the action. The circuit we created with the unconventional switch would respond to the moment of the mallet's strike onto the instrument. We are using the mallet as the switch in an interactive way that allows for a visual treat of music synchrony. Therefore, this concept is both functional and artistic. Each strike on the glockenspiel influences the lighting in real time, which creates a dynamic and immersive experience.

Because the instrument is made of metal, you can directly connect the clip to a singular note of your choosing to have the LED light up accordingly. Because we wanted the light to respond to multiple notes, we used tin foil to expand the connection to a set of three notes.

Unconventional Switch: Water

This circuit, powered by the Circuit Playground Express, demonstrates how water can be used as a system for a switch. Using only a breadboard, a blue LED, a bowl of heavily salted water, and clips to connect everything together, the circuit won't light up without the metal probes both being submerged in water, which makes it an indication of whether or not water is present up to a certain level.

While there are limitations based on available materials, such as the placement of the probes or how brightly the LED is glowing, with stronger, industrial voltages to combat water's naturally high resistance and without the need to salt the water, this circuit exemplifies how commercial and residential water systems can be made to include indicators for water in terms of safety and if there is a need to add to an empty container.  

Coin Unconventional Switch - Team 12

Soria Elhassan & Kylie Welch

Unconventional Switch: Coin

We created our unconventional switch using an LED, alligator clips, a 1000 ohm resistor, dimmer, circuit playground, and a coin. Starting with the circuit playground’s 3.3V produced for usage, it then goes through our 1000 ohm resistor. The coin then conducts the electricity to go through the dimmer, which allows us to reduce and gain lighting in the LED. Which then connects to the ground in the circuit playground to complete a full circuit. It’s unconventional due to the use of the coin because when the war hits and all you have is a quarter to your name, you too can make sure you have enough light to see the plans of the rebels in the darkest nights.

Image of switch

Video of switch

Schematic of switch

Unconventional Switch: Hook Detection

 

Electronics Team 21: Ethan Ryno and Jeremy Myers

    
    One way we wanted to bridge the gap for our unconventional switch was to uses wall hooks with metal tips and we wanted to see if we could hang something like a hat or metal kitchen utensil and if it would complete our current and turn on the LED. Detecting when something is on a hook can have a lot of uses whether making a game of landing something on it, see if a hooks in use so you don't put to much stuff on it, or do the reverse and tell when someone takes something off a hook turning or a light or make a alarm go off. The switch has two hooks each having clips attached to them, with one hook attached to the wall and the second placed on top of it with a piece of foam under it lifting it the hook up a bit. When something like a hat is placed on the top hook it weighs it down compressing the foam and touching the bottom hook completing the circuit and turning on the LED, lifting the hat up would then decompress the foam turning off the LED.

Unconventional Switch: United As One

By John Stalvey and Christopher Turner

When making an unconventional switch, we thought to ourselves "how can we bring out the human emotion into something as simple as a light switch?" A lot of couples might say they complete each other, and we wanted to physically represent that. When both rings (could be a wedding ring or other rings that mean something to you) come together, the light turns on, showing how great of a pair you two are. This light could be used functionally to tell guests in their house that both of them are present, or could just be a gift that symbolizes your care for each other. When you and your partner come together in unity, you both shine like a star! (or a light, in this case.)

The Mighty Duck Switch

 

Caio designed this switch, and the Zinc Duck is his. We considered what the duck could represent as a higher concept or any other meaning we wanted to give it. However, we both realized we wanted to use the Duck as our unique switch purely for comical value. 

The switch's function is quite simple. It is a basic circuit powered by the Circuit Playground with a 3.3 Volt power out that connects to a 100 Ohm resistor, the metal plate that came with the breadboard, and the zinc duck. When the duck is placed upon the strip, the circuit is connected, and power moves into the LED.

After all, a solid, at least one pound of zinc duck is inherently quite humorous. You could ask yourself, why someone would own a solid zinc duck, but the answer is not as fun as the application and the sense of personality that this particular switch offers compared to a typical soda or soup can. It is a uniquely personal artifact that gives the switch charm and a lingering personality.

Unconventional Switch: Combat Student Spending

 

Switch to Keep Students from Spending Money

By Rebecca Catterton & Ralfo Manzur

            Our switch was designed to combat one of the biggest problems students face: uncontrolled spending. Czech novelist Ivan Klima once said, “to destroy is easier than to create,” a sentiment that rings true to this day and can be applied to a variety of life’s facets, especially money. It is very easy to buy a new $30, $60 game, but it’s much harder to earn that money by working. Since most of us are students without degrees, the jobs we have access to are often limited in both hours and wage. By designing this switch, we’ve tackled the problem head on. One side of the wallet has a conductive gum wrapper on it, the other, a quarter. Do not be tempted by this quarter. The circuit is completed when the wallet is opened and the two items touch. When this happens, a red light turns on, reminding you of the terrible mistake you’re making. Your bank account and the future version of you will thank you. No more indulging yourself with an in-game purchase or even something from the vending machine.