The other evening I was watching the modern caveman campfire too long and I fell asleep. Considering the length of time that I was asleep there were several hours of wasted electricity that I will never be able to get back. Now if there was a TV that could detect when the user was not viewing and it would go into sleep mode, I am sure that a few natural resources could be saved.-- forgeman, Mar 19 2005 another way http://www.geocitie...hnnie/rubecube.html [FarmerJohn, Mar 19 2005] My TV has that. It can be preset to a number of minutes. I have it set to 45 minutes. If you don't zap or adjust volume or something it will automatically go into standby mode.
I use this in a different way. When this happens, it is time to ask myself the question "do you get from it what you want?" In most cases I answer with 'no' and I leave the TV like that and go do something else.
Actually, since August 2004 I have watched only some 4 to 6 hours of television time. Including the tsunami reports.
My TV is a Nokia MP 55 A2. My grandparents bought it especially with your proposed use in mind. I inherited it. With the way I am using it, it will get very old.
I prefer to hook up a beamer to my PowerBook and watch a DVD.-- rrr, Mar 19 2005 I think boob-tube has different meanings in the US. I was expecting a sort of padded chin-rest on the front of a tight-fitting top for women, to allow them to nod off in comfort.-- Basepair, Mar 19 2005 Sp: too.-- Basepair, Mar 20 2005 FJ - what a fantastic illustration. I think it might be your best one yet.-- energy guy, Mar 20 2005 This must be borderline marked for deletion. Almost every television available now has this feature.-- Detly, Mar 20 2005 [I prefer to hook up a beamer to my PowerBook and watch a DVD]
That's unexpected - BMW + Powerbook gives DVD viewing.-- DenholmRicshaw, Mar 20 2005 [FarmerJohn] - Excellent drawing. You are on my list of People to Worry About as soon as I get a chance....-- Basepair, Mar 20 2005 [Detly], I have yet to know of any TVs that detect when the viewer has lapsed into slumber. It actually seems a hard problem to solve, [FJ]'s approach aside (and that has its own set of problems).-- bristolz, Mar 20 2005 Ah. I clearly misread the idea.-- Detly, Mar 21 2005 a dead man's button on the remote?-- po, Mar 21 2005 no, I think it's just a piece of a hotdog but thanks for pointing it out.-- Basepair, Mar 21 2005 Crap, now I need to plead for a new t-shirt. (The illustration is on par with "Door Path Beater".)
A plus for the idea, that inspired the drawing. I sleep to the muffled sounds of television during the day, so it might not work so well for me.-- blissmiss, Mar 21 2005 random, halfbakery