Occupancy indicator - Revision history

Doug: Link to "Room reservation" in lede

2025-11-26T13:17:19Z

Link to "Room reservation" in lede

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:17, 26 November 2025
Line 1:		Line 1:
	The occupancy indicator is device used to indicate whether a room or bed is currently occupied or not.		The occupancy indicator is device used to indicate whether a room or bed is currently occupied or not. This page focuses on the device itself, its design and construction. For using rooms, see [[Room reservation]].

	== Indicators for rooms ==		== Indicators for rooms ==
Line 9:		Line 9:
	</gallery>This indicator is used to show whether a privatisable room is occupied or not. Pulling down the toggle on the inside of the door hides the "free" state and reveals the "occupied" state on the sign outside. When the toggle is pulled down and the door then closed, the cloth is clamped by the door frame, preserving the "occupied" state. When the door is opened, gravity pulls the block of wood down, automatically returning the sign to the "free" state.		</gallery>This indicator is used to show whether a privatisable room is occupied or not. Pulling down the toggle on the inside of the door hides the "free" state and reveals the "occupied" state on the sign outside. When the toggle is pulled down and the door then closed, the cloth is clamped by the door frame, preserving the "occupied" state. When the door is opened, gravity pulls the block of wood down, automatically returning the sign to the "free" state.

			=== Current design ===
	The current design is the 3rd iteration:		The current design is the 3rd iteration:
	* Old bike gear cable is used. It is freely available anywhere bikes are repaired and very durable. (Brake cable can be used, but it's much stiffer)		* Old bike gear cable is used. It is freely available anywhere bikes are repaired and very durable. (Brake cable can be used, but it's much stiffer)
	* Small wire clamps (bought) are used at end junctions and to limit the toggle distance for the "occupied" state.		* Small wire clamps (bought) are used at end junctions and to limit the toggle distance for the "occupied" state.
	* The cloth is a strip of denim. Made by getting an old pair of large jeans, cutting off one leg, opening up one of the seams, sewing it back together as a straight "tube", cutting off a slice and punching holes at opposite sides of the slice.		* The cloth is a strip of denim. Made by getting an old pair of large jeans, cutting off one leg, opening up one of the seams, sewing it back together as a straight tube, cutting off a slice and punching holes at opposite sides of the slice.
	* The cloth is tensioned at each end with a small metal rod with a "C"-shaped bend in the middle. Made by pressing an old bike spoke between an improvised form (i.e. large nut cut in half + fitting metal rod) in a vice. The "C"-shaped bends stick out of the holes punched in the cloth.		* The cloth is tensioned at each end with a small metal rod with a "C"-shaped bend in the middle. Made by pressing an old bike spoke between an improvised form (i.e. large nut cut in half + fitting metal rod) in a vice. The "C"-shaped bends stick out of the holes punched in the cloth.
	<gallery mode="packed" style="float:right;" caption="forming tensioner">		<gallery mode="packed" style="float:right;" caption="forming tensioner">

Doug: See also "Room reservation"

2025-11-26T13:10:22Z

Doug: Once again, move the tensioner gallery *le sigh"

2025-11-26T13:06:11Z

Once again, move the tensioner gallery *le sigh"

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:06, 26 November 2025
Line 13:		Line 13:
	* Small wire clamps (bought) are used at end junctions and to limit the toggle distance for the "occupied" state.		* Small wire clamps (bought) are used at end junctions and to limit the toggle distance for the "occupied" state.
	* The cloth is a strip of denim. Made by getting an old pair of large jeans, cutting off one leg, opening up one of the seams, sewing it back together as a straight "tube", cutting off a slice and punching holes at opposite sides of the slice.		* The cloth is a strip of denim. Made by getting an old pair of large jeans, cutting off one leg, opening up one of the seams, sewing it back together as a straight "tube", cutting off a slice and punching holes at opposite sides of the slice.
	* The cloth is tensioned at each end with a small metal rod with a "C"-shaped bend in the middle. Made by pressing an old bike spoke between an improvised form (i.e. large nut cut in half + fitting metal rod) in a vice. The "C"-shaped bends stick out of the holes punched in the cloth.<gallery mode="packed" style="float:right;" caption="forming tensioner">		* The cloth is tensioned at each end with a small metal rod with a "C"-shaped bend in the middle. Made by pressing an old bike spoke between an improvised form (i.e. large nut cut in half + fitting metal rod) in a vice. The "C"-shaped bends stick out of the holes punched in the cloth.
			<gallery mode="packed" style="float:right;" caption="forming tensioner">
	File:Occupancy indicator cloth tensioner start .jpeg\|unformed spoke		File:Occupancy indicator cloth tensioner start .jpeg\|unformed spoke
	File:Occupancy indicator cloth tensioner finish .jpeg\|tensioner with "C"-shaped bend in middle		File:Occupancy indicator cloth tensioner finish .jpeg\|tensioner with "C"-shaped bend in middle

Doug: copyedit

2025-11-26T13:05:17Z

copyedit

Doug: Add "previous designs"

2025-11-26T12:50:58Z

Add "previous designs"

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:50, 26 November 2025
Line 13:		Line 13:
	* Small wire clamps are used at end junction and to limit the toggle distance for the "occupied" state.		* Small wire clamps are used at end junction and to limit the toggle distance for the "occupied" state.
	* The cloth is a strip of denim. Made by getting an old pair of large jeans, cutting off one leg, opening up one of the seams, sewing it back together as a straight "tube", cutting off slices and punching a hole at opposite sides of the slice.		* The cloth is a strip of denim. Made by getting an old pair of large jeans, cutting off one leg, opening up one of the seams, sewing it back together as a straight "tube", cutting off slices and punching a hole at opposite sides of the slice.
	* The cloth is tensioned with a a formed metal rod at each end. Made by pressing old spokes against an improvised form (i.e. large nut cut in half + fitting metal rod) in a vice.<gallery mode="packed" style="float:right;" caption="forming tensioner">		* The cloth is tensioned with a a formed metal rod at each end. Made by pressing old spokes against an improvised form (i.e. large nut cut in half + fitting metal rod) in a vice.
			<gallery mode="packed" style="float:right;" caption="forming tensioner">
	File:Occupancy indicator cloth tensioner start .jpeg		File:Occupancy indicator cloth tensioner start .jpeg
	File:Occupancy indicator cloth tensioner finish .jpeg		File:Occupancy indicator cloth tensioner finish .jpeg
	</gallery>		</gallery>

			=== Previous designs ===
			The initial design was simply a piece of paper and a clothes peg. People simply moved the peg from "free" to "occupied". While this was very simple to implement, it had the disadvantage that people often forgot to move the peg back to "free" when leaving the room! This lead to multiple instances of a room being unused since people assumed someone was in there, and didn't want to disturb by knocking.

			The 2nd iteration moved to the gravity-assisted, door-as-a-clamp design currently used. This was done using string instead of cable + cloth. While easier to implement, it had several disadvantages:

			* The string would wear out through the constant friction, leading to regular breakages.
			* Before fully breaking, the string would often get longer, making it less clear which state the room was in.
			* Because of low surface area, the string was hard to clamp, often requiring additional material to be added to the doorframe.
			* The string would wear out a channel in the door frame, accelerating the previous issue.

Doug: move tensioner gallery to end

2025-11-26T12:34:13Z

move tensioner gallery to end

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:34, 26 November 2025
Line 10:		Line 10:

	The current design is a 3rd iteration:		The current design is a 3rd iteration:
	* Old bike gear cable is used. It is freely available anywhere bikes are repaired and very durable. (Brake cable can be used, but much stiffer)<gallery mode="packed" style="float:right;" caption="forming tensioner">		* Old bike gear cable is used. It is freely available anywhere bikes are repaired and very durable. (Brake cable can be used, but much stiffer)
			* Small wire clamps are used at end junction and to limit the toggle distance for the "occupied" state.
			* The cloth is a strip of denim. Made by getting an old pair of large jeans, cutting off one leg, opening up one of the seams, sewing it back together as a straight "tube", cutting off slices and punching a hole at opposite sides of the slice.
			* The cloth is tensioned with a a formed metal rod at each end. Made by pressing old spokes against an improvised form (i.e. large nut cut in half + fitting metal rod) in a vice.<gallery mode="packed" style="float:right;" caption="forming tensioner">
	File:Occupancy indicator cloth tensioner start .jpeg		File:Occupancy indicator cloth tensioner start .jpeg
	File:Occupancy indicator cloth tensioner finish .jpeg		File:Occupancy indicator cloth tensioner finish .jpeg
	</gallery>		</gallery>
	* Small wire clamps are used at end junction and to limit the toggle distance for the "occupied" state.
	* The cloth is a strip of denim. Made by getting an old pair of large jeans, cutting off one leg, opening up one of the seams, sewing it back together as a straight "tube", cutting off slices and punching a hole at opposite sides of the slice.
	* The cloth is tensioned with a a formed metal rod at each end. Made by pressing old spokes against an improvised form (i.e. large nut cut in half + fitting metal rod) in a vice.

Doug: change gallery class...

2025-11-26T12:33:29Z

change gallery class...

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:33, 26 November 2025
Line 10:		Line 10:

	The current design is a 3rd iteration:		The current design is a 3rd iteration:
	* Old bike gear cable is used. It is freely available anywhere bikes are repaired and very durable. (Brake cable can be used, but much stiffer)<gallery mode="packed" style="float: right;" caption="forming tensioner">		* Old bike gear cable is used. It is freely available anywhere bikes are repaired and very durable. (Brake cable can be used, but much stiffer)<gallery mode="packed" style="float:right;" caption="forming tensioner">
	File:Occupancy indicator cloth tensioner start .jpeg		File:Occupancy indicator cloth tensioner start .jpeg
	File:Occupancy indicator cloth tensioner finish .jpeg		File:Occupancy indicator cloth tensioner finish .jpeg

Doug: reformat tensioner gallery

2025-11-26T12:32:37Z

reformat tensioner gallery

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:32, 26 November 2025
Line 10:		Line 10:

	The current design is a 3rd iteration:		The current design is a 3rd iteration:
	* Old bike gear cable is used. It is freely available anywhere bikes are repaired and very durable. (Brake cable can be used, but much stiffer) *<gallery mode="packed" style="float: right;" caption="forming tensioner">		* Old bike gear cable is used. It is freely available anywhere bikes are repaired and very durable. (Brake cable can be used, but much stiffer)<gallery mode="packed" style="float: right;" caption="forming tensioner">
	File:Occupancy indicator cloth tensioner start .jpeg		File:Occupancy indicator cloth tensioner start .jpeg
	File:Occupancy indicator cloth tensioner finish .jpeg		File:Occupancy indicator cloth tensioner finish .jpeg
	</gallery>Small wire clamps are used at end junction and to limit the toggle distance for the "occupied" state.		</gallery>
			* Small wire clamps are used at end junction and to limit the toggle distance for the "occupied" state.
	* The cloth is a strip of denim. Made by getting an old pair of large jeans, cutting off one leg, opening up one of the seams, sewing it back together as a straight "tube", cutting off slices and punching a hole at opposite sides of the slice.		* The cloth is a strip of denim. Made by getting an old pair of large jeans, cutting off one leg, opening up one of the seams, sewing it back together as a straight "tube", cutting off slices and punching a hole at opposite sides of the slice.
	* The cloth is tensioned with a a formed metal rod at each end. Made by pressing old spokes against an improvised form (i.e. large nut cut in half + fitting metal rod) in a vice.		* The cloth is tensioned with a a formed metal rod at each end. Made by pressing old spokes against an improvised form (i.e. large nut cut in half + fitting metal rod) in a vice.

Doug: Add tensioner gallery

2025-11-26T12:31:54Z

Add tensioner gallery

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:31, 26 November 2025
Line 10:		Line 10:

	The current design is a 3rd iteration:		The current design is a 3rd iteration:
			* Old bike gear cable is used. It is freely available anywhere bikes are repaired and very durable. (Brake cable can be used, but much stiffer) *<gallery mode="packed" style="float: right;" caption="forming tensioner">
	* Old bike gear cable is used. It is freely available anywhere bikes are repaired and very durable. (Brake cable can be used, but much stiffer)		File:Occupancy indicator cloth tensioner start .jpeg
	* Small wire clamps are used at end junction and to limit the toggle distance for the "occupied" state.		File:Occupancy indicator cloth tensioner finish .jpeg
			</gallery>Small wire clamps are used at end junction and to limit the toggle distance for the "occupied" state.
	* The cloth is a strip of denim. Made by getting an old pair of large jeans, cutting off one leg, opening up one of the seams, sewing it back together as a straight "tube", cutting off slices and punching a hole at opposite sides of the slice.		* The cloth is a strip of denim. Made by getting an old pair of large jeans, cutting off one leg, opening up one of the seams, sewing it back together as a straight "tube", cutting off slices and punching a hole at opposite sides of the slice.
	* The cloth is tensioned with a a formed metal rod at each end. Made by pressing old spokes against an improvised form (i.e. large nut cut in half + fitting metal rod) in a vice.		* The cloth is tensioned with a a formed metal rod at each end. Made by pressing old spokes against an improvised form (i.e. large nut cut in half + fitting metal rod) in a vice.

Doug: Initial

2025-11-26T12:22:34Z

Initial

New page

The "occupancy indicator" is device used to indicate whether a room or bed is currently occupied or not.

== Indicators for rooms ==
<gallery mode="packed" style="float:right;" caption="indicator states">
File:Occupancy indicator outside free .jpeg|"free" outside
File:Occupancy indicator inside free .jpeg|"free" inside
File:Occupancy indicator outside occupied .jpeg|"occupied" outside
File:Occupancy indicator inside occupied .jpeg|"occupied" inside
</gallery>This indicator is used to show whether a privatisable room is occupied or not. Pulling down the toggle attached to the inside of the door hides the "free" state and reveals the "occupied" state on the sign outside. When the toggle is pulled down and the door then closed, the cloth is clamped in the door frame, preserving the "occupied" state. When the door is opened, gravity pulls the block of wood down, returning the sign to the "free" state.

The current design is a 3rd iteration:

* Old bike gear cable is used. It is freely available anywhere bikes are repaired and very durable. (Brake cable can be used, but much stiffer)
* Small wire clamps are used at end junction and to limit the toggle distance for the "occupied" state.
* The cloth is a strip of denim. Made by getting an old pair of large jeans, cutting off one leg, opening up one of the seams, sewing it back together as a straight "tube", cutting off slices and punching a hole at opposite sides of the slice.
* The cloth is tensioned with a a formed metal rod at each end. Made by pressing old spokes against an improvised form (i.e. large nut cut in half + fitting metal rod) in a vice.

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:10, 26 November 2025
Line 27:		Line 27:
	* Because of low surface area, the string was hard to clamp, often requiring additional material to be added to the door frame.		* Because of low surface area, the string was hard to clamp, often requiring additional material to be added to the door frame.
	* The string would wear out a channel in the door frame, accelerating the previous issue.		* The string would wear out a channel in the door frame, accelerating the previous issue.

			== See also ==

			* [[Room reservation]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:05, 26 November 2025
Line 1:		Line 1:
	The "occupancy indicator" is device used to indicate whether a room or bed is currently occupied or not.		The occupancy indicator is device used to indicate whether a room or bed is currently occupied or not.

	== Indicators for rooms ==		== Indicators for rooms ==
Line 7:		Line 7:
	File:Occupancy indicator outside occupied .jpeg\|"occupied" outside		File:Occupancy indicator outside occupied .jpeg\|"occupied" outside
	File:Occupancy indicator inside occupied .jpeg\|"occupied" inside		File:Occupancy indicator inside occupied .jpeg\|"occupied" inside
	</gallery>This indicator is used to show whether a privatisable room is occupied or not. Pulling down the toggle ~~attached to~~ the inside of the door hides the "free" state and reveals the "occupied" state on the sign outside. When the toggle is pulled down and the door then closed, the cloth is clamped in the door frame, preserving the "occupied" state. When the door is opened, gravity pulls the block of wood down, returning the sign to the "free" state.		</gallery>This indicator is used to show whether a privatisable room is occupied or not. Pulling down the toggle on the inside of the door hides the "free" state and reveals the "occupied" state on the sign outside. When the toggle is pulled down and the door then closed, the cloth is clamped by the door frame, preserving the "occupied" state. When the door is opened, gravity pulls the block of wood down, automatically returning the sign to the "free" state.

	The current design is a 3rd iteration:		The current design is the 3rd iteration:
	* Old bike gear cable is used. It is freely available anywhere bikes are repaired and very durable. (Brake cable can be used, but much stiffer)		* Old bike gear cable is used. It is freely available anywhere bikes are repaired and very durable. (Brake cable can be used, but it's much stiffer)
	* Small wire clamps are used at end ~~junction~~ and to limit the toggle distance for the "occupied" state.		* Small wire clamps (bought) are used at end junctions and to limit the toggle distance for the "occupied" state.
	* The cloth is a strip of denim. Made by getting an old pair of large jeans, cutting off one leg, opening up one of the seams, sewing it back together as a straight "tube", cutting off ~~slices~~ and punching ~~a hole~~ at opposite sides of the slice.		* The cloth is a strip of denim. Made by getting an old pair of large jeans, cutting off one leg, opening up one of the seams, sewing it back together as a straight "tube", cutting off a slice and punching holes at opposite sides of the slice.
	* The cloth is tensioned with a ~~a formed~~ metal rod ~~at each end~~. Made by pressing old ~~spokes against~~ an improvised form (i.e. large nut cut in half + fitting metal rod) in a vice.		* The cloth is tensioned at each end with a small metal rod with a "C"-shaped bend in the middle. Made by pressing an old bike spoke between an improvised form (i.e. large nut cut in half + fitting metal rod) in a vice. The "C"-shaped bends stick out of the holes punched in the cloth.<gallery mode="packed" style="float:right;" caption="forming tensioner">
	<gallery mode="packed" style="float:right;" caption="forming tensioner">		File:Occupancy indicator cloth tensioner start .jpeg\|unformed spoke
	File:Occupancy indicator cloth tensioner start .jpeg		File:Occupancy indicator cloth tensioner finish .jpeg\|tensioner with "C"-shaped bend in middle
	File:Occupancy indicator cloth tensioner finish .jpeg
	</gallery>		</gallery>

	=== Previous designs ===		=== Previous designs ===
	The initial design was simply a ~~piece~~ of ~~paper and a~~ clothes peg~~. People simply moved~~ the peg from "free" to "occupied". While ~~this was very simple~~ to implement, it had the disadvantage that people often forgot to move the peg back to "free" when leaving the room! This lead to multiple ~~instances~~ of a room being unused ~~since people assumed someone was in there~~, ~~and didn't want to disturb by knocking~~.		The initial design was simply a sign on the outside of the door with clothes peg, where people could move the peg from "free" to "occupied". While easy to implement, it had the disadvantage that people often forgot to move the peg back to "free" when leaving the room. This lead to multiple cases of a room being unused, sometimes for days at a time!
			[[File:Occupancy indicator v2 .jpeg\|thumb\|200x200px\|2nd design]]
	The 2nd iteration moved to the gravity-assisted, door-as-a-clamp design ~~currently used~~. This ~~was done using~~ string instead of cable + cloth. While easier to implement, it had several disadvantages:		The 2nd iteration moved to the gravity-assisted, door-as-a-clamp design seen in the current design. This design used string instead of cable + cloth. While easier to implement, it had several disadvantages:

	* The string would wear out through the constant friction, leading to regular breakages.		* The string would wear out through the constant friction, leading to regular breakages.
	* Before fully breaking, the string would often get longer, making it less clear which state the room was in.		* Before fully breaking, the string would often get longer, making it less clear which state the room was in.
	* Because of low surface area, the string was hard to clamp, often requiring additional material to be added to the ~~doorframe~~.		* Because of low surface area, the string was hard to clamp, often requiring additional material to be added to the door frame.
	* The string would wear out a channel in the door frame, accelerating the previous issue.		* The string would wear out a channel in the door frame, accelerating the previous issue.