# Help me identify this object **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 27, 2011, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-object/572785 "2011-02-27T07:50:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-object/572785/1 "2011-02-27T07:50:48Z")
I won this at a raffle tonight but didn’t open it until I got home. It is a red shiny case which velcros open to reveal a clear plastic disc that appears to contain electronics. The disc is 2 1/2" in diameter and has two opposing tabs that seems to be opening tabs - though I couldn’t get it open. [The case](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5173/5480798377_63f67cfdfa_z.jpg) [Disc - side one](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5137/5481376770_7f4e024fdc_z.jpg) [Disc-side two](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5059/5480798503_7677ff5807_z.jpg) Thanks . ---
**Author:** ![TravisFromOR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@TravisFromOR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TravisFromOR)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-object/572785/2 "2011-02-27T07:53:38Z")
I think it’s supposed to flash when you turn it on? Does it flash when you turn it on? ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-object/572785/3 "2011-02-27T07:57:09Z")
> [@TravisFromOR](#): > > I think it’s supposed to flash when you turn it on? > > Does it flash when you turn it on? I haven’t been able to find a way to turn it on. ETA: The black thing in the middle that looks like a button will not depress due to the rigidity of the case… which I can’t open. . ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-object/572785/4 "2011-02-27T07:59:12Z")
That black bump next to the battery looks like an on/off button. ---
**Author:** ![TravisFromOR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@TravisFromOR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TravisFromOR)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-object/572785/5 "2011-02-27T08:00:25Z")
Is that a switch in the middle? (Or, and I wasn’t making fun of you in the last post–to me it looks like a little flashy thing that all the kids play with these days…) ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-object/572785/6 "2011-02-27T08:16:19Z")
OK, I used a bit more force and pried it open. The black button will depress but nothing happens. ---
**Author:** ![TravisFromOR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@TravisFromOR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TravisFromOR)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-object/572785/7 "2011-02-27T08:22:54Z")
Maybe the batteries are dead. Other than that, I’m at a loss. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-object/572785/8 "2011-02-27T08:35:50Z")
If the case is translucent then it looks like it is a safety light that you could clip on your clothes or something if you are walking at night. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-object/572785/9 "2011-02-27T08:41:28Z")
Looks almost like some sort of spinning thing that lights up when rotated, I’ve seen Yo-yos along similar lines ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-object/572785/10 "2011-02-27T15:11:00Z")
Looks like a lighted yo-yo. When it turns the LED lights sparkle. ---
**Author:** ![longPath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bb73d2/32.png) [@longPath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/longPath)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-object/572785/11 "2011-02-27T16:57:51Z")
Maybe there are insulating tab thingies keeping the batteries disconnected until you remove them? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-object/572785/12 "2011-02-27T17:05:18Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > If the case is translucent then it looks like it is a safety light that you could clip on your clothes or something if you are walking at night. I agree. Google “flashing safety light” for other examples.