During the course of the day, we are constantly in contact with symbols that we activate, click on, or simply overlook, without stopping to reflect on their meaning or origin. However, if you have ever wondered why the power button of your computer, television, or even coffee maker displays that curious symbol of a circle with a line on top, get ready for a brief journey through technological history full of binary codes and universal standards.
PUBLICIDAD
The origin of the power icon: geekier than you thought
The famous power symbol that still dominates our current devices originated in the 1950s, an era when devices were operated through physical switches indicating "ON" and "OFF". Although these words were understandable to English speakers, they were not helpful for those who did not speak English. The solution? Designing a universal symbol understandable to everyone.
This is where binary language comes into play, the code used by computers (and potentially the language of the future, if we take seriously the technological enthusiasts in movies). In binary:
- The number 1 represents "on" or the affirmation of "yes".
- The representation of 0 indicates an "off" state or a negative response, that is, "no".
Therefore, the engineers of that time chose to merge both ideas into an icon that would be clear and sophisticated: a large circle (0) crossed by a thin vertical line (1). This is how the emblem that is most likely present on your laptop, television, or console right now was created.
From switches to the digital age
At the beginning, the binary power icon was used in physical switches that, literally, turned on or off the power to a device. It was a "no-nonsense" button: when pressed, the device would turn on or off. End of story.
However, over the years, technology advanced and, hand in hand with it, our buttons evolved. Currently, often when you press the power button, you are not turning off a device completely, but rather putting it into a sleep mode or energy-saving mode. Interestingly, in earlier times, this intermediate state also used the circle with a line, but it was later changed to a crescent moon symbol that you have probably seen on your laptop or smartphone.
A curious fact to impress in your next nerdy conversation
If you love to impress your friends (or just appear very interesting at a gathering), here's a fact to add to your collection: the power symbol is a clear example of how global standards influence our daily routine. Even though it originated in a time when there were few electronic devices, its design without linguistic barriers turned out to be ideal for a technologically and globalized world.
PUBLICIDAD
So, why do we keep using it?
The explanation is simple: it is global, useful, and does not need to be translated. Even though power buttons are now more advanced and perform different actions depending on how long they are pressed, the symbol continues to represent the essential concept of managing a device's power supply. Furthermore, let's be realistic, it is significantly more aesthetically pleasing than having a button with the words "on/off" in 57 different languages.
The next time you turn on your computer or switch off the TV after a marathon of series, think that the button with the circle and line has a background that connects the fifties, binary code, and your most modern device. Who would have thought that a simple button could be so geeky and cool at the same time?
