The Clapper is a piece of home automation history that still works. For over 30 years, its simple premise has endured: clap your lights on, clap them off. It plugs into any standard outlet and controls up to two appliances, responding to either two or three distinct claps.

In daily use, it’s straightforward. Plug a lamp into it, mount the unit on the wall near an outlet, and you have hands-free control from across the room. The clap detection is specific enough to ignore casual conversation, but you need a sharp, clear clap for reliable operation. Its 120-volt, 1-amp rating means it’s best for lamps and small electronics, not space heaters or large appliances. A useful Away Mode turns any loud sound into an on-switch, which can simulate occupancy when you’re out.

The mechanism is uncomplicated and that’s the point. Just know it requires a deliberate clap and works within a limited range. For bedside lamps or a hard-to-reach corner light, it delivers a specific, affordable kind of convenience.