The Clapper Was A Joke. Alexa Is Having The Last Laugh.

Slate has relationships with various online retailers. If you buy something through our links, Slate may earn an affiliate commission. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. All prices were up to date at the time of publication. "Clap on, clap off, it's The Clapper!" Rarely has an advertising catchphrase been more inane or yet more precise about an object's function. The Clapper, marketed from the mid-1980s by the American businessman Joe Pedott, is a sound-activated switch that turns appliances on and off with a clap of the hands.