a user interface question

[solarbird]

In an audio device with a tone knob, and an on/off switch by that tone knob, which “ON” makes more UI sense?

What does "ON" mean?

• [ ] ON: TONE KNOB is on, knob has effect on sound
• [ ] ON: BYPASS is on, knob has NO effect on sound.

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This is an honest question. I mean, I’m going to wire it up so that “ON” means “tone knob on,” because that’s how I roll, but I see this go the other way a lot.

(Also in this case “tone knob” means “low pass filter” which means “removes high frequencies” because AND THERE YOU GO. See? SEE?)

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Comments

[maellenkleth]

Maybe you should label it as "low pass filter select" (or perhaps "telechron link engage".

[solarbird]

Or "high frequency shunt valve" maybe. (Given that's actually kind of how it works... XD )

[maellenkleth]

That makes sense, although aesthetics demands that it be labelled "explosive bolts", instead.

[kathmandu]

In such a case, I am against using on/off terminology at all. I'd apply custom labels so the two positions are "Tone Knob Active" and "Bypass" or something.

But really, the *good* user-interface approach would be to put "off" as a position on the tone knob. It should not be possible to set the tone knob to a position where it looks like it's doing something, if it's not currently able to do anything.

[solarbird]

Well, "all the way down" is pretty darned close to "off." It's really a low-pass filter and turned all the way down is all but indistinguishable from off - to be honest I was expecting more difference, but turns out 800KOhm resistance and disconnected are effectively the same. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

(It doesn't have a "neutral" position like on a stereo, I guess I'm saying? It behaves like a guitar 'tone' knob, never boosting anything, only trimming highs. Which is appropriate under the circumstances and fits conventions.)