It is a (design-wise) shame that the UK plug design forces adapters to be so big.
Europlug USB adapters are much more slicker http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/339903558/_Euro_Plug_USB_T... .
Europlug USB adapters are much more slicker http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/339903558/_Euro_Plug_USB_T... .
While the UK plug design is unwieldy in comparison, it also features a huge number of cleverly designed elements intended to provide the utmost protection to the everyday user.
Put another way, no. of shocks in Japan: 3 in 3 years. No. of shocks in the UK: 0 in 27 years (16 of which were as a child).
I really don't see how you could accidentally get shocked that many times unless you are repeatedly violating something that is common sense to everyone else.
But the UK plug is just an artefact of the dangerous series circuits in many houses built during copper shortages. Such circuits are dangerous anyway, the remaining such houses should be fixed instead.
The UK pugs probably are needlessly safe - but so are aircraft and cars these days. I can't see a big campaign to remove earth pins, shuttered sockets, fuses and switches to increase the number of accidents getting much public traction!
They aren't any less safe (especially Schuko ones) to use. The problems are inertia and national pride.
http://www.arcfn.com/2012/03/inside-cheap-phone-charger-and-why-you.html
http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3903705