Here’s a small gripe. I recently bought a SoundWizard personal microphone and amplifying system from Hi-Tec. It’s a very cool multi-purpose device. It’s got two 3.5 mm plugs for your neckloop, earpods or headphones. It’s got directional and area microphone settings that amplify either an individual or the entire room. It’s got an attachment to amplify a standard telephone. There is an RF receiver attachment and separate transmitter that can be connected to the TV so you can broadcast your favorite shows right into your hearing aids. There is also an optional additional microphone that can be wired to the unit for use on a conference table. And it also comes with a compact carrying case with straps and pouches so you don’t lose the various pieces. Pretty nifty.
But it’s got one drawback that I’ve experienced with other battery-operated equipment: there’s no lock for the “off” button. That means when I’ve got the thing in my pocket or my briefcase, the slightest bump or jostle presses the green button and turns it on. Several hours later, when I’m ready to use it, the batteries are drained. Scrambling around for replacement batteries is a pain in the neck when you want to use the device NOW. Plus it’s an environmentally unfriendly waste of the displosable batteries you need to run it. I’ve had the same problem with other devices that turn themselves on. It’s especially vexing with rechargeable devices that require a power outlet and time before you can use them again. So here’s a question for the product designers out there: why don’t you put a simple locking mechanism on the “off” button?