Monday, November 9, 2009

motion detection


Monday morning.

I unlock the door to my shared lab area and flip the light switch to the 'on' position. No change, still dark.

The lights are controlled by a motion detector, so when the initial flip of the switch doesn't work, I usually try moving around to set off the sensor. I walk around the office. Nothing.

I try going in and out of the room, hoping that entrance into the room might be more easily noticed. Nothing.

I do some more walking in circles, this time waving my arms. Again, nothing.

Ok, arm waving isn't enough. What next? Perhaps I'm not tall enough. So, I dance around, jumping up and down while my arms wave. Still, nothing. Hmm....

As a last resort, I stand on chairs and wave my arms. This is getting a little ridiculous, but the lights are still not on. Damn.

I give up, resigning myself to darkness.

After about two minutes of sitting in the dark, the lights come on. wtf?

I almost wish this was a practical joke, set up to catch me acting like a crazy person alone in a darkened office. At least that would make sense! Oh well, I'm glad the lights are on and now I can see.
Posted by at

1 comment:

  1. UnknownNovember 10, 2009 at 4:42 PM

    well my first comment is....why do you have to flip a switch if the light is monitored by motion detectors.... i.e. just leave the switch in the "on" position so that when you walk in the room the lights will turn on automatically...engineer side of me is thinking it takes time for the motion sensor to "warm up"/"get enough power" to actually work.


    but i will add on to your rant of motion detectors because the pple who install them are not very bright.

    Case and Point: gym at my work.

    You would think you would put motion sensors in the more "high risk" areas of a gym like maybe where the treadmills are or where the free weights are.

    Nope.

    So occasionally while im running on the treadmill-- and running mind you is an activity that requires MOTION --- the lights seem to just turn off. The lights thought that since no one passed by the front door in the last oh 45 minutes that no one is in the gym.

    So yes....damn the motion sensors.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)