So, I took a look at the last UI you posted!
I general I like it, but I have some doubts and comments. I didn’t read the whole thread, so please ignore questions that could have been answered before! I start with the the end:
- “runs on single AA battery”: Alkaline and Ni-MH? Also, this is just to inform that 1 single cell will power the flashlight, but it will not achieve the lumens it is supposed to with 2 cells, right?
- “low voltage protection”: when the battery is low. The over-heat protection will be something different, I guess.
- “over-discharge protection”: hum, this is more related to Ni-MH cells, right. Will the flashlight be able to “notice” when they are below the levels they’re supposed to? Is 0.9V the ideal for Ni-MH?
UI
- click for ON/OFF in button 2 = :+1:
- shortcuts from ON/OFF to ML (button 1) and High (button 2) =
- two buttons to UP and DOWN brightness by Press & Hold =
- Possibility to start on ML and keep on “ramping up” the light till the desired level =
- Possibility to on High and keep on “ramping down” the light till the desired level =
Doubts:
- Press & Hold Button 1 - from OFF it will enter Moonlight without having to press button 2, right? If so, shouldn’t the dotted arrow in the scheme be red instead of black?
- Stepless dimming - will it be fast enough so that people don’t get “bored” with choosing brightness? Meaning: most of the lights I have with that system take a while and are not fast as a ramping UI. Just wanted to be sure on this
- Will the flashlight memorize the emitter(s) we have selected in our previous use?
- The part mentioning the that High will “step down to Low 10 minutes after power OFF”, is this a safety “don’t blind anyone” measure?
- About the lumens, will it always be 608 lumens with one or two emitters? Meaning, if I use the light with 1 emitter I will get 608 lumens and if I use it with two will it also be 608 lumens?
Concerns:
- As Henk4U2 mentioned, isn’t this UI too complicated for muggle people? Pressing ON/OFF in the button 2 and cycling between three well spaced and useful modes (L-M-H) through singles clicks in button 1 would be easier. This is more a flashaholic UI, even if we think it is simple!
- Not sure if adding “blinkies” such as bike strobe or strobe is very useful. Still if so, let it be hidden and not accessible by double clicks (triple or more clicks).
- The single clicks on button 1 to change emitters is a smart move - as we may wrongly “click” that button and still have light, just with a different beam - but wouldn’t double clicking on button 1 be more appropriate for this?
Sorry if some of the questions are dumb, but I am just trying to perceive how I would feel with this light in the hand.
And good work so far