What about the unenlightened virgins?

[Cataract]

No, no, this is not a thread about fanatic religious orders.
I was looking at my TK40 while playing with my Quark RGB the other day and wondering how much of a laugh it would be to frustrate an unenlightened flashlight virgin by showing off all the modes, then letting him figure out how to get through all the modes... especially if he goes :drool::eek: "I want one of those!!!" Ever had problems getting a non CPFer to use one of your lights?

My cousin bought a very simple 2 mode flashlight to his father for christmas, which he could turn on and off just fine. Well, he did have a small headstart, since my cousin gave him a rear clicky flashlight months ago (hint: he had to show him where the switch was!) Sooooo, rather than explaining what multimode was, my cousin tells him to turn the flashlight on : "click" "wow, this is bright" then to slightly press : "click" off :ironic:
"no,no! turn it on.." "click" "...and press slightly" "click" off :sigh:
"turn it on again" "click" "and press just a little so it doesn't turn off" : nothing :shakehead
"I don't unerstand what you're trying to show me"
"just press the switch a little bit" "click" off :ohgeez:
He finally took the flashlight in his hands to show him the second mode, but it still took my uncle a few tries before he got it right :crazy:

 

[brianch]

Yep this has happened to me many times. I don't understand how people do not understand the concept of HALF PRESS. For them its either on or off.. Drives me nuts. :tinfoil:

 

[signal 13]

Poor little guys. I could probably understand their frustration. I haven't really gotten into multi-mode lights myself. I'd probably pull my own hair out :hairpull: (well, what's left of it)...

 

[herbicide]

'...No, just a little... No (:ohgeez:) - *grab, click, press* - like that. Like when you use the autofocus on the camera?...':hairpull:

Yes, I too know that pain.

 

[brianch]

Someone should invent a voice controlled flashlight. That would solve their problems. :twothumbs

 

[Swedpat]

As christmas present last christmas I gave each Fenix E01 to two of my non-flashoholic friends. When they had opened the package I told them that there is already battery in it (I had prepared that) Then they both did the same thing, but it was not at the same occasion (actually I wanted to see how they do): tried to find out how to put on this thing, by screwing it up until the head was loosened! Not even tried to tightening it first... :ohgeez:

Anyway; when they finally turned it on they both thought it was very bright for such a small sized light. :D

Regards, Patric

 

[Locoboy5150]

Yep, I've experienced the exact same thing a few times with my lights as well. I cannot understand how some people in their work life can understand 100% complex things, yet outside the four walls of their workplace they cannot figure out how to use a TK40 and cycle through the different light output modes.

Yeah...nothing like using turbo mode of 630 lumens to illuminate a task that is literally 8 inches in front of you! :rolleyes:

 

[FrogmanM]

simple, KISS UI torches for my family and friends. ( I doubt my father has tried changing modes on his Quark AA Turbo)

-Mayo

 

[orbspeed1]

+1 one the camera half press for focus:thinking:

Most people cant work a mini mag, let alone work a multi mode light.

Have you ever been caught out by or given someone who uses a Sony Ericsson phone a Nokia or vise versa to unlock the key pad IT tells you what to do on the screen and there still stuck. :shrug:

Or say hit Enter instead of Return :sigh:

 

[carrot]

For those who don't understand half press I don't bother to explain, I just tell them to double click. This is a familiar action to anyone who has ever sat at a computer.

 

[3000k]

Someone should invent a voice controlled flashlight. That would solve their problems. :twothumbs

Not if you have a heavy accent. Personally I prefer single mode lights, I never use any other mode than full on. I wish the new mag xl-100 came with only the brightness control and not all the other useless functions.

The first time I picked up a minimag, I was stumped how to turn it on.

 

[Launch Mini]

I gave my nephew a Quark MiNi 123 for Christmans. I would say within a minute he had it completely figured out. 3 modes and even found the hidden modes and was explaining how it worked to his mom.
Now, I would like to see her try & find the SOS feature:crackup:

 

[Tempest UK]

Designing a flashlight for the "general public" is different to designing one for military/LEO users, and it's very different to designing a light for flashaholics.

Even making it look like something that "they" might want to pick up and use is a challenge. I know that my SureFires haven't shown any appeal to my friends/family when they've seen them. They have what I'm looking for in a flashlight, but that's not what others might want.

If they're not into flashlights in the way that a CPFer is, why would they be interested in a complicated light?

Regards,
Tempest

 

[computernut]

I have issues with my Surefires. L4/E2E no problem, just click. Double-tapping the E2L or using the twisty/momentary of the A2/L1 confuses people until I give them a brief demonstration. I guess most people just think that lights only have one mode, on/off unless you tell them otherwise.

 

[Tempest UK]

I guess most people just think that lights only have one mode, on/off unless you tell them otherwise.

That has been my experience, too. But once I've shown them/told them that there are a couple of levels, they usually think that it's a good idea.

Regards,
Tempest

 

[Kestrel]

The only real successes that I have had getting non-flashies to use my multimode lights correctly without recursive coaching involved only one style of tailcap:

• SureFire L1
• SureFire L2
• Z41 tailcap w/ McC2S
• Z52 tailcap w/ McE2S

Common theme to these, no? :naughty:

 

[Benson]

Hmmm. From the title, I thought we were talking about the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25); singularly appropriate for flashaholics, though I don't get why the "wise" virgins didn't carry a spare lamp as well; 2=1,1=0! :candle:

 

[tolkaze]

Haha, I was just thinking about this last night, got my NT storm into programming mode (250 click thing) and locked it to low, then put auto lock on it. Wife grabs the light *click flash flash flash off* "whats wrong with this thing?" *Click flash flash flash off*

Okay, triple click to take off the lock, now double click to get to medium, if thats not bright enough, double click again, if you turn it off, the keyguard will come back on after a while.

*Click click click, click click, click... flash flash flash off*

"Stupid bloody light"

Then she just grabbed my modded maglight from beside the door to do whatever it is she was doing

 

[Linger]

+1
Definately a challenge to explain the 1/2 press, maybe b/c there is no feedback until the 1/2 press is released, so people keep pressing until the click which is too far.

 

[hyperloop]

Someone should invent a voice controlled flashlight. That would solve their problems. :twothumbs

hahaha, imagine blazing the light at a would be mugger who yells, "dammit, turn that light OFF!" and your light goes dead.