HiSaver Uses Motion Detection System to Stop Vampire Power
Time for another addition to the growing collection of devices that claim to stop vampire power (AKA power used while electronics are in standby mode): the HiSaver. Astra Corporation’s product, which debuted at last week’s Consumer Electronics show, uses a motion sensor placed on top of your computer to control a custom power strip. If you’re away from the PC for a certain amount of time, the HiSaver automatically shuts off the strip.
Unlike many vampire power destroyers, the HiSaver completely eliminates all energy use. And once your computer is shut down for the evening, the device automatically shuts itself off too.
The HiSaver is still in development, but should be on store shelves by April.
Photo Credit: Astra Corp.
Bad idea…
A computer is not like a TV or a desklamp. Simply killing the power while your computer it’s running can leave file operations unfinished and corrupt your files or even the whole harddrive. However, this may be useful for cutting power to the monitor and other accessories OTHER then the main box.
HiSaver NEVER kills power to your computer EXCEPT when you’ve already shut it down manually (or via software). But it will automatically kill ALL power to all the devices plugged in to its “slave” outlets when you’re gone for 10 minutes or more, and it will restore power to them automatically whenever you come back.
Most of us have no use for a monitor/printer/powered speakers/scanners (one for bus. cards)/pen tablet/whatever when we’re not even in the same room with them to view/print/listen/scan/draw/whatever. And those items together tend to use way more electrical power than our computers.
During the day, I want my PC on to get email, maintain my VPN, check for RSS, etc. But there’s no reason to waste energy on the electronic devices if I’m away from my desk and not even there to use them.
Full disclosure: I will be selling HiSaver in the US soon. I truly believe in the product. Ideally, electronic devices would use (a modest amount of) electricity only when they were in use, and NONE when they were not being used. HiSaver comes pretty close to achieving the NONE part for your own electronic gear.
Note: Astra is a reseller of HiSaver.