Back in 2015, Netflix decided to take their signature chill session to the next level. They created The Switch – a physical button that could actually orchestrate your entire Netflix binge setup with one press. And yes, it was real.

This wasn't some April Fools' joke or concept video. Netflix engineers actually built a working prototype that connected to smart home devices and services to create the ultimate lazy person's dream machine.

What The Switch Actually Did

Press the button and watch the magic happen. Your phone would flip to silent mode. The lights would dim to perfect viewing levels. Your TV would power on and launch Netflix. And here's the kicker – it could trigger a food delivery order from your favorite restaurant.

All of this from a single button press. No fumbling with remotes, no app-switching, no getting up to hit light switches.

The Catch: You Had To Build It Yourself

Netflix didn't sell The Switch in stores. Instead, they released it as an open-source DIY project on GitHub. They provided the technical specs, code, and instructions for anyone with some electronics skills to build their own.

The hardware requirements weren't simple:

Arduino microcontroller
IR transmitter for TV control
Wi-Fi connectivity module
Integration with Phillips Hue lights
API connections to food delivery services

This wasn't a RadioShack weekend project. You needed real technical chops to pull it off.

Why Netflix Built Something They'd Never Sell

The timing tells the story. "Netflix and chill" had just exploded as a cultural phenomenon and meme in 2015. Netflix leaned into the joke with this engineering flex – showing they understood internet culture while demonstrating their technical prowess.

It was marketing genius disguised as a maker project. News outlets everywhere covered it, techies shared it, and Netflix's brand got associated with innovation and fun. All without manufacturing a single retail unit.

The project also showcased Netflix's vision for smart home integration years before it became mainstream. They were experimenting with the Internet of Things before most people had connected thermostats.

Whatever Happened To It?

The GitHub repository is still up, frozen in time as a 2015 curiosity. Nobody's really building these anymore – partly because the tech has evolved beyond Arduino projects, and partly because smart home ecosystems now offer similar automation through voice commands and apps.

You can say "Hey Google, movie time" and get basically the same result today without soldering anything. But back then? The Switch was genuinely ahead of its time, even if it never made it past the prototype phase.

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