That led the relay, a kind of sensing device, to incorrectly conclude there was an electrical problem and tell a nearby electrical switch to isolate the perceived problem, reducing the flow of power to the Superdome during the game's third quarter.

WSJ: Device Setting Triggered Super Bowl Outage

Many advanced amateurs and hobbyists had commented that it was difficult to use when shooting close-up photography on a tripod, for example, because the sensor is on the front of the camera. so we included a remote port on the left side of the camera so you can plug in an optional electrical cable release with a locking switch.

ENGADGET: The Engadget Interview: Steve Heiner, General Manager, Digital SLR Systems, Nikon

On the other hand, this conflation makes far more sense in the long term, as our electrical grid becomes more sophisticated, and as electric vehicles begin the inevitable switch from internal combustion engines to electric motors or some other renewable source of power.

FORBES: What the Price of Oil Means for Solar Power and Electric Vehicles

The switch's conductivity could be changed by manipulating the levels of electrical current.

FORBES: Magazine Article

One answer is to plug clusters of equipment (for instance, computers, monitors, printers, modems and routers) into a proper surge protector that not only guards against nasty electrical spikes coming down the line, but also shuts down all the equipment completely when you switch off.

ECONOMIST: The much-talked-of smart grid prepares to enter the home