Editing Clicker

{{short description|Small noisemaker, used in animal training}}
{{other uses}}
{{verify|date=June 2022}}
[[File:Knackente Unterseite DB.jpg|thumb|right|Duck clicker, underside]]
[[File:Calotte en flambement.png|thumb|clicker ("buckling cap") is a spring with two stable states]]
[[File:D-Day cricket issued to Allied paratroopers preceding and during Operation Overlord.jpg|thumb|right|D-Day cricket issued to Allied paratroopers]]
[[File:D-Day cricket.ogg|thumb|D-Day cricket (sound)]]
[[File:ClickersFxwb.jpg|thumb|right|[[Clicker training|Clicker-training]] clickers come in various shapes and forms.]]

A '''clicker''', sometimes called a '''cricket''',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dday-overlord.com/en/material/equipment/cricket|title=The D-Day Cricket|date=19 February 2016 }}</ref> is any device that makes a clicking sound, usually when deliberately activated by its user.

They usually consist of a piece of thin [[metal]] or plastic held in a casing so that the metal is slightly torqued; depressing one end of the metal causes it to pop out of alignment and releasing it causes it to pop back into alignment, each time making a sharp click.

With some clickers, the user depresses the metal directly with thumb or finger; with others, a button extends above the surface of the casing so that depressing the button makes the metal click.

==Social uses==
*In [[World War II]] clickers were used by Allied paratroopers preceding and during [[Operation Overlord]] as a way of covertly identifying friend from foe.<ref name=Ferguson /> A soldier would click once and if two clicks were received in return from an unidentifiable soldier then his identification was confirmed.<ref name=Ferguson>{{cite AV media |people=Jonathan Ferguson  |date=5 June 2024  |title=D-Day 80th Anniversary Special, Part 1: Paratroopers, with firearms expert Jonathan Ferguson  |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqzHBEXl8_E |access-date=6 June 2024  |time=16:40-17:30 |location= |publisher=Royal Armouries  }}</ref>
*Clickers are used to provide audible feedback for human students learning using a method called [[TAGteach]].
*Clickers were used to organize [[Catholic]] group activity.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hommerding |first1=Alan J. |title=We Support the Sisters |url=http://www.latenitecatechism.info/latenitecatechism/sisters/ |website=Late Nite Catechism |access-date=20 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110228222259/http://www.latenitecatechism.info/latenitecatechism/sisters/ |archive-date=28 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=James R. |title=does God use a clicker? |url=https://pickleheavenpress.com/2020/05/27/does-god-use-a-clicker/ |website=Pickle Heaven Press |access-date=20 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929173359/https://pickleheavenpress.com/2020/05/27/does-god-use-a-clicker/ |archive-date=2020-09-29 |language=en |date=27 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=White |first1=Sue |title='Nuncrackers' at Saginaw's Pit and Balcony brings humor for Catholics, everyone else |url=https://www.mlive.com/entertainment/saginaw/2012/11/nuncrackers_puts_a_crazy_spin.html |access-date=20 December 2024 |work=[[mlive]] [[MLive.com]] |date=30 November 2012 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=What is a clicker and what does it look like? |url=https://www.askacatholic.com/_webpostings/answers/2010_04APR/2010AprWhatIsAClicker.cfm |website=www.askacatholic.com |access-date=20 December 2024}}</ref>
<blockquote>"The clickers were [[dime store]] crickets that made a nice, loud click, perfect for signaling a [[First Communion]] class so all the kids would stand up at the same time, and kneel at the same time, and start filing down the aisle together."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ebert |first1=Roger |title='Heaven Help Us' movie review & film summary (1985) {{!}} Roger Ebert |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/heaven-help-us-1985 |access-date=20 December 2024 |work=www.rogerebert.com |date=February 11, 1985}}</ref> — [[Roger Ebert]]</blockquote>

==Animal training uses==
{{main article|Clicker training}}
Clickers were first used by marine mammal trainer [[Karen Pryor]] as a way of communicating with their animals. [[toothed whales|Dolphins and whales]] communicate underwater through a series of clicks and whistles known as [[animal echolocation|echolocation]], and the clicker allowed a trainer to produce signals they were more likely to understand.{{cn|date=March 2019}}

Clickers are now used to train dogs, and other animals.  When associated with a treat, a click allows the owner to mark the precise moment the desired behavior is executed.{{cn|date=March 2019}}

==Other uses==
*{{Anchor |counting}}Clickers are also used as a handheld counting device, sometimes digital but more commonly mechanical, used to [[people counter|keep a count of the numbers of people]] entering a venue. It is often used by nightclub doorstaff to make sure fire limits are not exceeded.
*A clicker is a device used on [[recurve bow]]s to signal to the archer that correct draw length has been achieved, thus aiding consistency.
*Some [[board games]] designed after [[game shows]] come with clickers that are meant to emulate the [[Lock-out device|buzzers]] common on such shows.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Dog equipment]]
[[Category:Military equipment of World War II]]


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