Instant-off
Encyclopedia
Instant-off is a feature found in modern laptop
s, predominantly included in premium, high-end
models only. Instant-off enables users of such devices to immediately power down their hardware without enduring the long and often arduous waiting process typically associated with laptops that are not Instant-off enabled. Whilst such a feature could technically be incorporated into inferior mainstream consumer models, the high cost and low level of user education associated with this market are prohibitive.
corporations that the CEO
and other high ranking corporate officers use only laptops that are Instant-off enabled in order to protect commercially sensitive information in the event that someone attempts to observe the screen
over the shoulder of the officer.
. As such, the trigger for the Instant-off process will normally be hidden in a location without any distinguishing features to alert other users to its presence; the archetypal location for the trigger being the power cord
of the laptop, with the removal of said power cord activating the Instant-off process and leading to the complete shutdown of the system within 1.5 seconds. Whilst locating the trigger in such an easily accessible component of the laptop does lead to occasional accidental activations, the benefits of hiding the feature in plain sight - which allows it to be activated within seconds of the alarm being raised - are generally thought to more than compensate for this one perceived drawback.
Laptop
A laptop, also called a notebook, is a personal computer for mobile use. A laptop integrates most of the typical components of a desktop computer, including a display, a keyboard, a pointing device and speakers into a single unit...
s, predominantly included in premium, high-end
Luxury good
Luxury goods are products and services that are not considered essential and associated with affluence.The concept of luxury has been present in various forms since the beginning of civilization. Its role was just as important in ancient western and eastern empires as it is in modern societies...
models only. Instant-off enables users of such devices to immediately power down their hardware without enduring the long and often arduous waiting process typically associated with laptops that are not Instant-off enabled. Whilst such a feature could technically be incorporated into inferior mainstream consumer models, the high cost and low level of user education associated with this market are prohibitive.
Benefits
The benefits of Instant-off are primarily concerned with the protection of information. For example, it is company policy at most Fortune 500Fortune 500
The Fortune 500 is an annual list compiled and published by Fortune magazine that ranks the top 500 U.S. closely held and public corporations as ranked by their gross revenue after adjustments made by Fortune to exclude the impact of excise taxes companies collect. The list includes publicly and...
corporations that the CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
and other high ranking corporate officers use only laptops that are Instant-off enabled in order to protect commercially sensitive information in the event that someone attempts to observe the screen
Industrial espionage
Industrial espionage, economic espionage or corporate espionage is a form of espionage conducted for commercial purposes instead of purely national security purposes...
over the shoulder of the officer.
Implementation
Instant-off is usually implemented in devices following the principles of stealthStealth technology
Stealth technology also termed LO technology is a sub-discipline of military tactics and passive electronic countermeasures, which cover a range of techniques used with personnel, aircraft, ships, submarines, and missiles, to make them less visible to radar, infrared, sonar and other detection...
. As such, the trigger for the Instant-off process will normally be hidden in a location without any distinguishing features to alert other users to its presence; the archetypal location for the trigger being the power cord
Power cord
A power cord, line cord, or mains cable is a cable that temporarily connects an appliance to the mains electricity supply via a wall socket or extension cord. The terms are generally used for cables using a power plug to connect to a single-phase alternating current power source at the local line...
of the laptop, with the removal of said power cord activating the Instant-off process and leading to the complete shutdown of the system within 1.5 seconds. Whilst locating the trigger in such an easily accessible component of the laptop does lead to occasional accidental activations, the benefits of hiding the feature in plain sight - which allows it to be activated within seconds of the alarm being raised - are generally thought to more than compensate for this one perceived drawback.