I was just thinking, for safety reasons schuko isn't exactly the best design of outlet as it's unpolarised. However, there is a very simple sollution.
1) Drop CEE 7/IV (Schuko) and replace with the compatable CEE 7/V (French) which is polarised when used with grounded plugs and pretty much fully backwards compatable with normal CEE 7/VII plus which allow for both grounding options.
2) make non grounded europlugs include a small moulded protrusion on one side, big enough to not fit past the french grounding pin but still compatable with old schuko and italian/danish/swiss outlets.
Basically a europlug with oneside bulging out.
This would prevent it from being inserted the wrong way into a French style outlet.
(Recessed swiss outlets wouldn't be a problem as you could pretty much make the bulge the same shape as a grounded swiss plug, just without the 3rd prong)
[This message has been edited by djk (edited 09-03-2003).]
