# What is this gadget by the door in my hotel room? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 13, 2014, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-gadget-by-the-door-in-my-hotel-room/698352 "2014-09-13T00:53:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-gadget-by-the-door-in-my-hotel-room/698352/1 "2014-09-13T00:53:20Z")
In a hotel where I am a frequent guest, I noticed that they have this gadget in all the rooms: [gadget](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/minor7flat5/IMG_1876.jpg) It’s right at the top of the doorframe. It looks like something with an infrared emitter or sensor. I looked at it with my cell phone camera to see if it emits IR light, but this device wasn’t emitting any IR. What is it? What purpose does it serve? ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-gadget-by-the-door-in-my-hotel-room/698352/2 "2014-09-13T01:01:00Z")
Looks sort of like an automatic spray air freshener, but might also be an emergency exit light? Why not ask the front desk? ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-gadget-by-the-door-in-my-hotel-room/698352/3 "2014-09-13T01:01:51Z")
I suspect it’s a fire alarm. The upper portion will flash a light in case anyone in the room is hard of hearing. It might also be emergency lighting. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-gadget-by-the-door-in-my-hotel-room/698352/4 "2014-09-13T01:02:33Z")
Just a video camera. 🙂 Can you open it up? It looks like it might be powered by a couple AA batteries in the bottom part. ---
**Author:** ![MrQwertyasd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-gadget-by-the-door-in-my-hotel-room/698352/5 "2014-09-13T01:02:59Z")
Kinda like an abstract plastic swaddled baby. Sure it’s a gadget not a piece of art ? ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-gadget-by-the-door-in-my-hotel-room/698352/6 "2014-09-13T01:04:00Z")
Might you be in a room that is designed to accommodate guests with impaired hearing? See if there is a button like a doorbell in the hallway outside your door. Might trigger that thing you are looking at to flash. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-gadget-by-the-door-in-my-hotel-room/698352/7 "2014-09-13T01:04:37Z")
And just to add some cuteness, this picture was one of the “trending” pics off to the side of your pic on PhotoBucket: [http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/mystuff444/cute/cute1\_zpsbc7eb784.jpg](http://s379.photobucket.com/user/mystuff444/media/cute/cute1_zpsbc7eb784.jpg.html) The heck is it? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-gadget-by-the-door-in-my-hotel-room/698352/8 "2014-09-13T01:22:23Z")
Looks like a fire alarm flasher to me. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-gadget-by-the-door-in-my-hotel-room/698352/9 "2014-09-13T01:57:52Z")
A few more details… [ul] [li]This is in a Marriott, and I am there every month and have observed these in every room (at least as often as I have checked).[/li] [li]It is a small device. Perhaps 1" wide and 4" tall. The metal molding around the door gives scale.[/li] [li]The top part is opaque, or at least it’s that kind of really dark stuff they use on IR devices.[/li] [li]There is already an obvious separate fire alarm in the room, complete with flasher.[/li] [li]I have tried gently prying one open, but figured that since it didn’t open with ease I had better not mess with it.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-gadget-by-the-door-in-my-hotel-room/698352/10 "2014-09-13T02:03:12Z")
It might be a device that turns off the heat/ac if it doesn’t detect a person in the room. A buddy of mine used to have a job installing that type of device. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-gadget-by-the-door-in-my-hotel-room/698352/11 "2014-09-13T02:53:26Z")
I know it’s a wild shot, but have you tried asking the front desk? If it was mounted on the wall, my guess would be an occupancy sensor for the HVAC, but it looks like it’s attached to the door frame, which would make wiring difficult. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-gadget-by-the-door-in-my-hotel-room/698352/12 "2014-09-13T03:25:13Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > Why not ask the front desk? > [@gotpasswords](#): > > I know it’s a wild shot, but have you tried asking the front desk? > > If it was mounted on the wall, my guess would be an occupancy sensor for the HVAC, but it looks like it’s attached to the door frame, which would make wiring difficult. Right now I’m a few hundred miles from the hotel, but I now that I have a nice snapshot of it, I will try to remember to ask next time. > [@Revtim](#): > > It might be a device that turns off the heat/ac if it doesn’t detect a person in the room. A buddy of mine used to have a job installing that type of device. I wondered that too, but I agree with **gotpasswords** that wiring would be difficult, and it seems in an odd spot for that particular task–it is in a place that does not have a view of most of the room. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-gadget-by-the-door-in-my-hotel-room/698352/13 "2014-09-13T05:08:27Z")
I’m pretty sure it’s a flashing alarm. Something the ADA would require in handicap accessible rooms. Maybe Marriott went ahead and put them in all the rooms? Anyway, the location is another clue. It’s clearly indicating where the door is. A handy feature in the confusion of an emergency. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-gadget-by-the-door-in-my-hotel-room/698352/14 "2014-09-13T05:26:22Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > And just to add some cuteness, this picture was one of the “trending” pics off to the side of your pic on PhotoBucket: [http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/mystuff444/cute/cute1\_zpsbc7eb784.jpg](http://s379.photobucket.com/user/mystuff444/media/cute/cute1_zpsbc7eb784.jpg.html) > > The heck is it? It’s a miniature stuffed polar bear cub. There are a few people who specialize in making toys like that by hand. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-gadget-by-the-door-in-my-hotel-room/698352/15 "2014-09-13T07:33:02Z")
My guess is that it is part of the Energy Management System. Probably a motion sensor that turns shit off when no one is in the room. > [@Morgyn](#): > > It’s a miniature stuffed polar bear cub. There are a few people who specialize in making toys like that by hand. Polar bears have five toes, though. I only see 4. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-gadget-by-the-door-in-my-hotel-room/698352/16 "2014-09-13T11:06:03Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > It’s a miniature stuffed polar bear cub. There are a few people who specialize in making toys like that by hand. [Tatiana](https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/85739555/miniature-bear-pattern-emailed-pdf?ref=shop_home_active_4) [Scalozub](http://www.bearsandbuds.com/September2010/TS-mini-bears-Sept2010.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-gadget-by-the-door-in-my-hotel-room/698352/17 "2014-09-13T17:21:19Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > My guess is that it is part of the Energy Management System. Probably a motion sensor that turns shit off when no one is in the room. > Polar bears have five toes, though. I only see 4. I guess she didn’t know that. But that’s still what it is. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-gadget-by-the-door-in-my-hotel-room/698352/18 "2014-09-13T18:43:23Z")
It’s an auxiliary chemtrail sprayer, for those times when the jets are grounded to get their tanks refilled. Ask the person on night duty at the desk; sometimes they’ll spill the beans. ---
**Author:** ![andrewm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c57346/32.png) [@andrewm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewm)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-gadget-by-the-door-in-my-hotel-room/698352/19 "2014-09-13T20:51:16Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m pretty sure it’s a flashing alarm. Something the ADA would require in handicap accessible rooms. Maybe Marriott went ahead and put them in all the rooms? > > Anyway, the location is another clue. It’s clearly indicating where the door is. A handy feature in the confusion of an emergency. It is absolutely not an emergency strobe light. It’s not red, it’s not labelled, and the only part that might be transparent enough for light to shine through is the gray at the top. You would not want any tinting over an emergency strobe. Fire alarm strobes look like this: [http://www.grainger.com/product/SYSTEM-SENSOR-Horn-Strobe-WP135912](http://www.grainger.com/product/SYSTEM-SENSOR-Horn-Strobe-WP135912) It might be some sort of IR sensor (motion or heat, such as to shut off the heat/AC when no one is in the room). Dark gray translucent lenses are common over IR sensors and emitters (TV remote controls and receivers, for example). They filter the visible light but allow IR to pass. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-gadget-by-the-door-in-my-hotel-room/698352/20 "2014-09-13T21:04:21Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > A few more details… > > [ul] > [li]This is in a Marriott, and I am there every month and have observed these in every room (at least as often as I have checked).[/li] > [li]It is a small device. Perhaps 1" wide and 4" tall. The metal molding around the door gives scale.[/li] > [li]The top part is opaque, or at least it’s that kind of really dark stuff they use on IR devices.[/li] > [li]There is already an obvious separate fire alarm in the room, complete with flasher.[/li] > [li]I have tried gently prying one open, but figured that since it didn’t open with ease I had better not mess with it.[/li][/ul] Are the initials “NSA” visible anywhere on the casing? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-gadget-by-the-door-in-my-hotel-room/698352.md?page=2)