I got this fancy tire gauge+filler. It uses a couple coin batteries. They live around 6 months with it "off". I use it a couple times a year, so basically every time I go to use it it is dead. Removing the batteries requires disassembly. A year or so ago I soldered in a couple AA batteries in place of the coin batteries, it's been good so far, but I'm waiting to see.
On the other hand, I have a Mitutoyo caliper, which also uses a couple coin batteries. I sometimes forget to turn it off when I put it back in the case, and so far, over 6+ months, it hasn't run the batteries out.
So it CAN be done. Both devices are basicaally the same: LCD display and they measure a sensor.
Back when I was in HS, I had a Casio calculator watch, but it ate through batteries (3-6 months IIRC). The bracket for the strap broke, so I just taped it up in my locker. Soldered it to a D battery, and never had to replace it again. :-)
User control has a big benefit here. I want certain devices to sacrifice battery power in exchange for fast wireless re-connections over bluetooth. My headphones for example - I don't want to wait, use the bluetooth antenna all you want.
But I don't want that 100% of the time. With a power switch, I get my ideal user experience (fast reconnects) and I have control when to apply that user experience (on/off switch).
It’s totally possibly to engineer devices that last a lot longer.
I’m currently working on a new device that will monitor my weight for 3 years without recharging. (It reads continuously, it’s a scale for Bottomless.)
I got this fancy tire gauge+filler. It uses a couple coin batteries. They live around 6 months with it "off". I use it a couple times a year, so basically every time I go to use it it is dead. Removing the batteries requires disassembly. A year or so ago I soldered in a couple AA batteries in place of the coin batteries, it's been good so far, but I'm waiting to see.
On the other hand, I have a Mitutoyo caliper, which also uses a couple coin batteries. I sometimes forget to turn it off when I put it back in the case, and so far, over 6+ months, it hasn't run the batteries out.
So it CAN be done. Both devices are basicaally the same: LCD display and they measure a sensor.
Back when I was in HS, I had a Casio calculator watch, but it ate through batteries (3-6 months IIRC). The bracket for the strap broke, so I just taped it up in my locker. Soldered it to a D battery, and never had to replace it again. :-)