a kill switch

A kill switch (also called an e-stop) is a security measure used to shut off a device in an emergency situation in which it cannot be shut down in the usual manner. Unlike a normal shut down, which shuts down all systems naturally and turns the machine off without damaging it, a kill switch is designed to completely abort the operation at all costs. Often, they are used to protect people from sustaining an injury or being killed, in which case damaging the machine may be considered to be acceptable. For other uses, see Security (disambiguation). ...

Physical world applications

A similar system, usually called a dead man's switch (A dead man's switch [for other names, see alternative names], as its name suggests, is a device intended to stop a machine in case the human operator becomes incapacitated, and is a form of fail-safe. They are commonly used in locomotives, freight elevators, lawn mowers, tractors, jet skis, outboard motors, snowblowers and snowmobiles. For other uses, see Dead mans switch (disambiguation). ...

Vehicles

It is used to shut down vehicles and machinery if the operator loses control or is ejected. A common example of this would be the kill switches used by boaters wherein a cord connects the kill switch to the operator (usually by their life jackets), and if the operator is thrown overboard in an accident, the cord will pull the switch and immediately shut down the vessels' engine. The Trikke is a Human Powered Vehicle (HPV) Automobiles are among the most commonly used engine powered vehicles. ... This article is about devices that perform tasks. ... For other uses, see Boat (disambiguation). ... A personal flotation device (also named PFD, lifejacket, life preserver, Mae West, life vest, life saver, cork jacket, life belt) is a device designed to keep a wearer afloat and their head above water, often in swimming pools, rivers, lakes, and oceans. ...

NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) requires all their stock cars to be equipped with a steering wheel-mounted kill switch, in case the accelerator pedal sticks and the driver needs to shut down the engine. Jeff Burton (99), Elliott Sadler (38), Ricky Rudd (21), Dale Jarrett (88), Sterling Marlin (40), Jimmie Johnson (48), and Casey Mears (41) practice for the 2004 Daytona 500 The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States. ...

Kill switches are also used on land vehicles as an anti-theft device and as an emergency power off. A young waif steals a pair of boots Stealing redirects here. ...

Machinery

A kill switch is also used for gasoline pumps or any other device that pumps large amounts of explosive or flammable chemicals. There is commonly a single kill switch for all pumps at a pumping station. Petrol redirects here. ... This article is concerned solely with chemical explosives. ... DIN4102 Flammability Class B1 Vertical Shaft Furnace at Technische Universität Braunschweig, iBMB, Germany. ... Water and steam are two different forms of the same chemical substance A chemical substance is a material with a definite chemical composition. ... Pumping station Van Sasse in Grave, the Netherlands Pumping station Van Sasse in Grave, the Netherlands Pumping stations are facilities including pumps and equipment for pumping fluids from one place to another. ...

Musical instrument

An electronic musical instrument, such as a guitar or bass guitar, may have a kill switch. It is used infrequently but most commonly in heavy metal music. Contrary to popular belief, a kill switch doesn't break the circuit but works by switching between the hot signal from a pick-up and the ground signal. A typical way of achieving this is (on a guitar with a volume control for each pick-up) by turning down the volume on one of the pick-ups then alternating the pick-up selector switch between that pick-up and one with the volume turned all the way up. They are sometimes used when a singer doubles as a guitar player and isn't playing or sometimes used as an effect during a song. Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave, Buckethead (such as in "Jordan"), and Ace Frehley of Kiss (band) (such as in the intro to the song "Cold Gin" from the Kiss Alive! album) are well known for their use of the kill switch. Jack White uses a kill switch during some of his performances and in songs like Icky Thump. Some amateur guitarists fashion their own kill switches. These are usually very crude but still just as effective as one made by a professional. A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making music. ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... A sunburst-colored Fender Precision Bass The electric bass guitar (or electric bass[1][2]; pronounced , as in base) is a bass stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers (either by plucking, slapping, popping, or tapping) or using a pick. ... Heavy metal redirects here. ... For other uses, see Singer (disambiguation). ... Thomas Baptist Morello (born May 30, 1964) is a Grammy Award-winning American guitarist best known for his tenure with the bands Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave, and as the acoustic artist The Nightwatchman, He was featured as one of 20 guitarists in Rolling Stone magazines The Top... Rage Against the Machine, is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1991. ... For the bands self-titled album, see Audioslave (album). ... This article is about the avant-garde metal composer and musician. ... Paul Daniel Frehley (born April 27, 1951[1]), better known as Ace Frehley, is an American guitarist best known as a founding member and lead guitarist for the rock band Kiss. ... Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. ... Cold Gin is the name of at least two different Kiss tribute bands: One featuring Anthony White as Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer as Ace Frehley, Chris McLernon as Gene Simmons, and Jaime St. ... Alive! was Kiss fourth album and is considered their breakthrough, as well as a landmark for live albums. ... For other persons named Jack White, see Jack White (disambiguation). ... This article is about the album by The White Stripes. ...

Gym

Treadmills often use a safety key that the runner clips to his/her waist, and if he/she falls or trips, the safety key is pulled out, and the machine stops immediately.

In computer software

Kill switch may also be a software anti-piracy feature, most notably in "Windows Vista" operating system. It renders software useless to users running a pirated copy. Microsoft developed a verification tool named "Windows Genuine Advantage", that activates a kill switch on pirated software. In effect a software kill switch is acting like an electronic anti-theft system in cars, that disables a stolen car. Anti-piracy describes the attempt to prevent misappropriation of intellectual property typically occurring by copying of copyrighted work without permission or payment of royalties to the originator or rights owner. ... Windows Vista (pronounced ) is a line of operating systems developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, Tablet PCs, and media centers. ... Microsoft Corporation, (NASDAQ: MSFT, HKSE: 4338) is a multinational computer technology corporation with global annual revenue of US$44. ... Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) is an anti-piracy system created by Microsoft that enforces Microsoft Windows online validation of the authenticity of several recent Microsoft operating systems when accessing several Microsoft Windows services, such as Windows Update, and downloading from the Microsoft Download Center. ... An anti-theft system is a system used to keep theft under check by the use of some alarm or lock, or taking some preventive measure at that very instances. ...