Saturday, February 18, 2012

Stop, Children, What's That Sound?

   My wife an I
 attended some amazing
gymnastics competition last week.
   During the events spectators were
reminded to turn off the flash on their
cameras so it wouldn't distract the
athletes.
   So, the flashes disappeared.
   They were replaced by Skeuomorph!
   Just in case any of you didn't know
that's the "click" you hear when you
take a picture with your digital camera.
    It is, literally, a sound effect that's
not at all necessary to get your photo!
    Back when everybody used film
cameras the "click" was the sound of
the shutter opening and closing.
    Many digital cameras don't have
shutters. But people have become so
accustomed to hearing the "click"
that manufactures include it to appease
the users.
    There's a visual Skeuomorph too!
    Digital camera mimic the illusion
of a shutter opening and closing by
turning off the screen for just an instant.
    Cameras aren't the only devices that
make use of Skeuomorphic sounds.
     There's a hydrogen powered motor
bike that is virtually silent. The
developers created an artificial "roar"
so people will know it's approaching.
     Then there's your car doors!
     After adhering to government
safety standards a typical car door closed
with  a tinny sound instead of a good
hefty "clunk!"  So the manufactures
put dampeners into the door cavities
to muffle the tinny effect.
     They also engineered the door locks
to make just the right "clicking" sound.
     Guess it's like they've always said.
     "Don't believe everything you hear!"
     Still......I hope you're listening and
that all your NEWS is good!

"Click!"

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