Light switches: from clunking to clicking
There was a light switch that clunked in my grandparents older midwestern home.
These have become rarer over time; light switches that click and require less effort to toggle are the new standard.
One reason older light switches create a louder clunk sound may be from the use of a spring-loaded mechanism. Early switches used DC circuits, where light switches benefited from faster switch action to resist arching. AC doesn't benefit from a faster action in light switches, so springs began to phase out after this standard shifted. Older models were often made from thick metal and Bakelite, which also influenced the sound and feel of using them.
There are pros and cons to user experience factors of older and newer light switches. Improved accessibility is the most glaringly obvious change to this design. Additionally, newer switches are quieter to use (particularly important at night), sound less aggressive and they're slimmer. However, this comes at the cost of tactile feedback from flipping and the feeling of durability.
Trade-offs are often necessary in design. Newer switches offer a greater advantage for accessibility, which is the most significant benefit. That being said, the lack of a clunk is certainly less satisfying.
