Control Panel

In praise of dials, toggles, buttons, and bulbs. A companion blog to the Control Panel group on Flickr. Your panelists: Stephen Coles and Norman Hathaway.

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Why So Many Control Rooms Were Seafoam Green

The Color Theory Behind Industrial Seafoam Green

[danismm]

“Safety Program Evaluation Index”, 1956

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The UX of LEGO Interface Panels by George Cave

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“SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) [was] the national air defense system implemented by the United States to warn of and intercept airborne attacks during the Cold War. The heart of this digital system—the AN/FSQ-7 computer—was developed, built and maintained by IBM. SAGE was the largest computer project in the world during the 1950s and took IBM squarely into the new world of computing.… SAGE spun off a large number of technological innovations that IBM incorporated into other computer products.

In June 1956, IBM delivered the prototype of the computer to be used in SAGE. The press release called it an “electronic brain.” It could automatically calculate the most effective use of missiles and aircraft to fend off attack, while providing the military commander with a view of an air battle. Although this seems routine in today’s world, it was an enormous leap forward in computing. When fully deployed in 1963, SAGE included 23 centers, each with its own AN/FSQ-7 system, which really consisted of two machines (one for backup), both operating in coordination. Ultimately, 54 systems were installed, all collaborating with each other. The SAGE system remained in service until January 1984, when it was replaced with a next-generation air defense network.

Its innovative technological contributions to IBM and the IT industry as a whole were significant. These included … real-time transmission of data over telephone lines; use of CRT terminals and light pens (a first) … It was the first geographically distributed, online, real-time application of digital computers in the world.”

IBM 100: Icons of Progress (via Brendan Simons)

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EMS VCS3 Putney Rare Deluxe Version and Standard Version with DK-1 Keyboard

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Electronic Music Studios, circa 1970, by Peter Grogono

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Basement in Pittsburg. Photo by Norman Hathaway.

[vintagegeekculture]

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Built in 1954, the building that houses longwave transmitter Europe 1 is the oldest privately owned radio station in Germany. Photos by Lars-Christian Uhlig

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Bakery Story for iOS (submitted by Laura Serra)

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Control room, Klingenberg Power Station, Berlin, 1928. Photos by E.O. Hoppé.

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“ortho remote is the wireless remote control designed for OD-11. with ortho remote you adjust the volume, skip track and pause your music from any room, at up to 20 meters distance. ortho remote has a magnetic back so you can stick it to any magnetic metal surface like a fridge. the non-slip bottom makes it rest steady on any surface.”

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OP-1 Accessory Demo)

[science70]

U.S. Army audiovisual technician stands at her videotape editing station, 1973.

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Switching on the Setton RS 220.

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Setton RS 220

Built in 1977 by Setton (a partner or subsidiary of Pioneer), this uncommon receiver is said by some to have been designed by Pierre Cardin, who has dabbled in things other than clothing (but others say it was actually Allain Caire, an acolyte of Cardin).

This thing is a tank – well, more like a ’50s Cadillac. I have fond childhood memories of playing with the controls. The aluminum dials and buttons have a heavy, well-built feel that is rare these days. Changing the volume is so smooth it reminds one of power steering. And you gotta love those hefty handles, necessary for lugging this hunk of metal and walnut.

The “Heat” “Clipping” and “Protection” lamps light up when you switch the unit on. Video with sound. The typeface is Eurostile.

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Reviews based purely on the feel of the knob

The original internet connoisseur of controls. Surely if you follow Control Panel you already follow KnobFeel, but for those few who don’t, do it now.