The Big Red Switch is made of shatterproof plastic. (It originally came only in the color red, but is now available in a variety of colors.) The 5″ diameter switch is highly sensitive to touch anywhere on its top surface and requires 3 ounces of pressure to activate. It has an audible click when activated. It has a 6′ cord and a standard 1/8″ plug for connection to control units, adapted battery-operated devices and computers.