Apparently “off” no longer means “off.” As I mentioned in an earlier post, the house I’m staying at has a resident Nintendo Wii. I’m sleeping in the living room with it and I have discovered that even when you turn the damned thing off, it still emits this creepy pulsating blue light from its slot-like mouth. And apparently that’s not all:
According to the specs of the new Nintendo Wii (their new game machine), “Wii can communicate with the Internet even when the power is turned off.” Nintendo accentuates the positive: “This WiiConnect24 service delivers a new surprise or game update, even if users do not play with Wii,” while ignoring the possibility that Nintendo can deactivate a game if they choose to do so, or that someone else can deliver a different — not so wanted — surprise.
We all know that, but what’s interesting here is that Nintendo is changing the meaning of the word “off.” We are all conditioned to believe that “off” means off, and therefore safe. But in Nintendo’s case, “off” really means something like “on standby.” If users expect the Nintendo Wii to be truly off, they need to pull the power plug — assuming there isn’t a battery foiling that tactic. Maybe they need to pull both the power plug and the Ethernet cable. Unless they have a wireless network at home.
Maybe there is no way to turn the Nintendo Wii off.
Welcome to the future – a future you will not have the option of turning off or opting out of.
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5 Comments
I have noticed this with many electronic devices, that turning them off does not really turn them “off.”
I think there is a different type of peace when all the electronic gadgets in a room or a home are truly powered off.
My old roommate had a stereo receiver that would scroll the word “WELCOME” across its LED screen, even when it was supposedly turned off. Creepy as hell. I ended up taping a piece of cardboard over it so I wouldn’t have to see it when I was in that room reading or watching TV or whatever.
Yep! Plus I have put black electrical tape over all the brand names on my computer, and some of the needless flashy blinking lights. It works wonders on your peace of mind.
Hey, I like the blinky lights…
You could unplug it any time you’re not using it. I do this with things I know don’t turn “off-off,” like removing the battery from my cell phone when I’m not expecting a call. Funny thing about that was how it conflicted with other things that don’t turn “off-off,” like my radio. Leaving them both “off-on” in the same room would result in super-creepy static noises from both. All plugs in my house get yanked when not in use, if only so that anyone can sleep.
Funny how everyone I’ve ever worked for has thought this is a good idea (or given a darned good impression of it!)
Big campaign in the UK now to turn off stuff on standby. Back in the 70’s we had little stickers on lightswitches that said ‘Save it!’. Now (of course!) it’s been reframeed as an ‘anti-standby’ campaign. Which of course won’t work ;-D
TV’s used to have to be warmed up. I’m only 38 but I rememebr this. Technology improved and they became ‘instant on’ which meant they were really always on but on some sort of standby. The conspiracy theory was that these sets were permenent spy cameras in your home. With the right technology They could sit in an office and look at you in your living room w/o your knowledge.
This applies to phones too.
I’ve never believed the mind-control-waves-being-beamed-at-us thing but you have to wonder sometimes. Some people can’t comprehend why this sort of thing is invasive.