The Clapper: Yes, that one.

Oh boy!

Technology Connextras (the second channel where I put stuff sometimes)

Technology Connections on Mastodon:

This channel is supported through viewer contributions on Patreon. Thanks to the generous support of people like you, Technology Connections has remained independent and possible. If you'd like to join the amazing people who've pledged their support, check out the link below. Thank you for your consideration!

[etienne]

Relays make big clicky sound, that's maybe why they used triacs. To prevent the clapper to systematically trigger itself.

[SteveMould]

I’ve been pestering Alec to make a video about this for ages! So happy to see it!

[chuck]

I'll never forget the Clapper! My grandma's Yorkshire terrier would sit and bark at it, turning it on and off, for hours at a time. He was a wizard!

[Ederick]

the box falling over and literally resetting you in your mental script was comedy gold, literally laughed out loud.

[Renegade]

"Discerning what isn't a clap" is the most top tier B-roll I've ever seen.

[Tinyvalkyrie]

We have a Bob Ross themed clapper that we use to control Xmas lights. It turns stuff on, turns on a night light, and says Bobby Ross’s catch phrases depending on how many claps. It is definitely finicky but it’s a holiday tradition at our house. It is especially hilarious because the popping of a wood fire sets it off all the time, and we do a lot of heating with wood, so the thing will just spontaneously turn on the tree and talk about happy accidents. It’s like we are hosting the ghost of Bob Ross for a couple months a year.

[MrJayrock]

A healthy round of applause on a variety or game show could cause it to trigger too, especially at the volume my grandad used to watch tv at. It was even funnier when the clapper commercial would come on and turn his lights on and off 😂

[jacoblittle]

A while back I bought the clapper to turn on a couple of lights aimed at my dartboard. I figured out really quick that the sound of a dart hitting the dartboard and then the echo made in my garage triggered it to switch my lights on and off. So, it became part of the game... Throw one dart in light, then the next in the dark, and the 3rd in the light again

[phorcep]

TC: “no effort November”

Also TC: *”no effort” content still more consistent and of higher quality than 99.9% of YT*

[kuebby]

For a company with 4 products, they've got a high level of nostalgia.

[ShinoPuppy]

My clapper story: bought one once at a yard sale. A while later, my mom and I were having a heated argument, and the shouting quickly turned to giggles because the light would toggle on and off every couple of words. Needless to say, that argument didn't last long.

[a.p.]

The funny thing about the "Ove Glove" is that it is literally identical to the knit "mill gloves" used in all sorts of industrial processes where one might need to move hot parts around. I'm willing to bet that idea came from someone just taking their gloves home from work to use as oven mits, and having a eureka moment when they realized they could sell them directly to consumers who *didn't* work around rubber molds or whatever.

[DB-xczu]

Your "not clapping" noises absolutely sent me. Good video, as always.

[WillaWillNot]

I had a clapper as a teen and found that it was shockingly effective when put on the higher-threshold sensitivity, and then not clapping, but clicking my tongue. Something about the sound of clicking your tongue is very identifiable to its circuitry as a "clap" even at volumes low enough not to wake other people up, and doesn't make your hands sore.

[alexmawdsley]

The triple clap followed by "ooh, a different thing!" got me good 😅

[HeyItsRich]

My parents got a clapper in the early 90's to control the Christmas tree, every time the dog barked it would trigger the clapper. It was mildly entertaining.

[innercityprepper]

I was 2nd tier tech support at Compaq back in the early 90's back when tech support was open 24/7 and free (and we would help with ANYTHING) and I prank called one of the new guys, making him try to help the issue I was having: I was playing "DOOM" (it had just been released) and every time I fired the pistol twice, The Clapper would activate and turn off my computer.

[mikedepue]

We used to have The Clapper! My stepdad had COPD, so he coughed all the time. The Clapper flicked the light on & off so much, it made our living room look like a rave.

[nandernet]

When my grandmother got arthritis in her hands, we got her a dog click trainer so she could still use her clapper. Worked quite well!

[geographicaloddity]

We bought a Bob Ross talking clapper last year and returned it after a week. The clapper part worked but Bob would randomly talk without a clap. It was like the room was haunted by Bob Ross.