Demo mode

The demo mode (short for "demonstration mode") is a feature often found in consumer electronics. A demo mode is usually programmed into the unit's firmware, and can often be accessed by the pressing of a simple or complex combination of keys. Demo mode is usually activated by retail stores on their consumer electronics floor models. The purpose of a demo mode is twofold:

• One, it demonstrates the features of the unit in question
• Two, it catches the eye of the consumer with a flashy show of lights, entertaining sound, or both.

The central idea behind a demo mode, then, is in-store advertising.