What does this control do on new airplanes?











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On the last two planes I took, just last week, there was the control shown in this (very blurry, sorry) photo. The planes were Boeing 787-8. It seems to be made of two half-circle buttons.



On the first plane, pressing the half buttons moved the blue light up or down. On the second, nothing happened. Nothing else seemed to change. I paid attention to the window and cabin light but nothing happened. Since these planes had no apparent window shade, I thought the control would operate a mechanism to act as shade.



What is this control for? What is doing something? Could it have been not operational on one or both planes? Seems an unlikely coincidence, particularly since the behavior of the blue light was different.



Control










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  • gizmodo.com/5829395/…
    – Nate Eldredge
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up vote
5
down vote

favorite












On the last two planes I took, just last week, there was the control shown in this (very blurry, sorry) photo. The planes were Boeing 787-8. It seems to be made of two half-circle buttons.



On the first plane, pressing the half buttons moved the blue light up or down. On the second, nothing happened. Nothing else seemed to change. I paid attention to the window and cabin light but nothing happened. Since these planes had no apparent window shade, I thought the control would operate a mechanism to act as shade.



What is this control for? What is doing something? Could it have been not operational on one or both planes? Seems an unlikely coincidence, particularly since the behavior of the blue light was different.



Control










share|improve this question






















  • gizmodo.com/5829395/…
    – Nate Eldredge
    2 hours ago













up vote
5
down vote

favorite









up vote
5
down vote

favorite











On the last two planes I took, just last week, there was the control shown in this (very blurry, sorry) photo. The planes were Boeing 787-8. It seems to be made of two half-circle buttons.



On the first plane, pressing the half buttons moved the blue light up or down. On the second, nothing happened. Nothing else seemed to change. I paid attention to the window and cabin light but nothing happened. Since these planes had no apparent window shade, I thought the control would operate a mechanism to act as shade.



What is this control for? What is doing something? Could it have been not operational on one or both planes? Seems an unlikely coincidence, particularly since the behavior of the blue light was different.



Control










share|improve this question













On the last two planes I took, just last week, there was the control shown in this (very blurry, sorry) photo. The planes were Boeing 787-8. It seems to be made of two half-circle buttons.



On the first plane, pressing the half buttons moved the blue light up or down. On the second, nothing happened. Nothing else seemed to change. I paid attention to the window and cabin light but nothing happened. Since these planes had no apparent window shade, I thought the control would operate a mechanism to act as shade.



What is this control for? What is doing something? Could it have been not operational on one or both planes? Seems an unlikely coincidence, particularly since the behavior of the blue light was different.



Control







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asked 2 hours ago









Itai

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28.4k966148












  • gizmodo.com/5829395/…
    – Nate Eldredge
    2 hours ago


















  • gizmodo.com/5829395/…
    – Nate Eldredge
    2 hours ago
















gizmodo.com/5829395/…
– Nate Eldredge
2 hours ago




gizmodo.com/5829395/…
– Nate Eldredge
2 hours ago










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It is windows shade adjustment. In the new B787 lines, you press up/down button to make the windows darker or brighter.



The process takes minutes so you might not be able to realize it. It's not as quick as a curtain.



Also, the crew can control it to simulate the night on long flight. So the button will end up being useless during "night mode".






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    up vote
    9
    down vote













    It is windows shade adjustment. In the new B787 lines, you press up/down button to make the windows darker or brighter.



    The process takes minutes so you might not be able to realize it. It's not as quick as a curtain.



    Also, the crew can control it to simulate the night on long flight. So the button will end up being useless during "night mode".






    share|improve this answer



























      up vote
      9
      down vote













      It is windows shade adjustment. In the new B787 lines, you press up/down button to make the windows darker or brighter.



      The process takes minutes so you might not be able to realize it. It's not as quick as a curtain.



      Also, the crew can control it to simulate the night on long flight. So the button will end up being useless during "night mode".






      share|improve this answer

























        up vote
        9
        down vote










        up vote
        9
        down vote









        It is windows shade adjustment. In the new B787 lines, you press up/down button to make the windows darker or brighter.



        The process takes minutes so you might not be able to realize it. It's not as quick as a curtain.



        Also, the crew can control it to simulate the night on long flight. So the button will end up being useless during "night mode".






        share|improve this answer














        It is windows shade adjustment. In the new B787 lines, you press up/down button to make the windows darker or brighter.



        The process takes minutes so you might not be able to realize it. It's not as quick as a curtain.



        Also, the crew can control it to simulate the night on long flight. So the button will end up being useless during "night mode".







        share|improve this answer














        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited 12 mins ago









        Greg Hewgill

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        24.5k16495










        answered 2 hours ago









        Binh

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