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Mobile Phone Abuse and AbUsers

Posted by michael on from the sssssssssssssshhhhhh dept.

Doctor Hu writes "The Economist has a story ("Think Before You Talk") describing a new range of mobile phone prototypes designed by Ideo to discourage antisocial usage - devices ringing in concert halls, loud proclamations that the caller is on his way home, etc. The first of the series uses electric shocks to condition the user to talk at a non-intrusive level; the others are similarly ingenious. Not intended to be commercially produced, just to provoke discussion (and provide publicity for Ideo, presumably). Nice comment at the end from one of the designers that for devices like mobile phones, "user-centric" design needs to take the needs of people nearby the user into account as well."

9 of 368 comments (clear)

  1. How about... by Whispers_in_the_dark · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ... setting up licensed cell-phone free zones (such as concert halls etc) where phones cannot ring. The zones could have a small very low-power transmitter/scrambler that would inform/interrupt the cell phone so that it just wouldn't ring in those areas.

    1. Re:How about... by filmsmith · · Score: 4, Insightful

      While that's a nice idea and I'm in favor of it, it's still a sad state of affairs when we need to enforce what should be proper ettiquite.

    2. Re:How about... by david.given · · Score: 5, Insightful
      ... setting up licensed cell-phone free zones (such as concert halls etc) where phones cannot ring. The zones could have a small very low-power transmitter/scrambler that would inform/interrupt the cell phone so that it just wouldn't ring in those areas.

      A better solution than just blocking everything would be to set up a microcell inside the theatre/concert hall/etc. Any calls to a phone inside the microcell get routed to the theatre/auditorium/whatever's reception, where a message can be left. If it's a genuine emergency, the message can be forwarded on.

      I gather this is actually possible, but I don't know why no-one's tried it.

    3. Re:How about... by DickBreath · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Yeah, you'd get into legal problems otherwise. What about doctors who have to be callable by their patients in case of emergency?

      This argument does not fly. I have a diabetic daughter, and know something about medical emergencies.

      In case of emergency, you call 911, NOT the doctor. An EMT and ambulance can be there very quickly. (I have two test cases of experience to draw on... 3 minutes to my front door, and at grade school, faster than both me and mom could even get to the school.)

      As for calling the doctor, it is a NON emergency. You call, and get either a nurse or answering service. The nurse, if available, may solve your problem directly. The doctor is paged and then calls you. (This means, she could step out of the theatre into the lobby.) Return call times vary. Usually takes a few minutes. Calls of this nature would be for medical questions or changes in medication dosage, etc.

      When the doctor is "on call", they know this in advance. They know what hours and shifts they are on call. I'm sure they plan accordingly as to cell phone and pager use.

      Finally, doctors generally rely on pagers. Not cell phones. Pagers have fantastic in-building penetration and coverage area where cell phones do not always. If you MUST be reachable when your Linux box detects that your Windows server has crashed again, then a pager is the thing to have.

      --

      I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.
  2. Re:Cell Phones while Driving... by AmigaAvenger · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Agreed this is a start, but the problem isn't holding onto something, try going down the road holding the phone up to your ear. For the most part, people only have/need one hand on the wheel anyway.
    The dangerous part is the lack of concentration. Handsfree adapters don't help this, if anything, make it worse, people have a subconscious tendency to look at the source of the audio when speaking...

  3. Talking in public by the_Bionic_lemming · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I can understand the frustration when folks talk in a movie theater during the show, or in an art gallery. At those times it should be right to express frustration and tell them to STFU (if they are or are not using a cell phone it doesn't matter).

    But a grocery line? A bus? A train? What the hell is wrong with using a cell phone there?

    I mean really - I never saw a parent staple their annoying brats mouth shut to stop it from yammering about how it wants that candy bar by the cash register - I don't see people duct taping their mouths on a train instead of conversing.

    If a cell phone user keeps it quiet, what the hell is the problem?

    --
    _ _ _ Go for the eyes Boo! GO FOR THE EYES!
  4. Re:Here's an idea... by Darth+Maul · · Score: 5, Insightful

    > If someone is bothering you with their
    > cell phone chatter in a place such as a
    > movie theater...

    How about just tell the person they're bothering you? What's wrong with us here in the US that we can't confront anyone anymore? Everyone has to just pretend that everyone is nice all the time, then of course talk about these people behind their backs.

    Just say something! You're not being rude; you're alerting this person to the fact that they are out of place in what they're doing. We'll all be better off.

    Yeah, I hate passive agressiveness.

    --
    --- witty signature
  5. the problem isnt the phone.. by Maeryk · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It is the user! Zapping the annoying Cell phone user in the theater wont stop them from A) letting their annoying screaming child run amok during the movie B) chatting at normal volume with the person next to them C) loudly snoring D)
    being generally obnoxious with their squeaky straw or nearly empty soda.

    We went to my son's 4th grade chorus recital last night. The family perched behind us A) let their 3? 4? year old child spend the entire half hour screaming to his (presumed) relative on stage, they carried on a conversation that came out louder on my camcorder than the singing, and when the kids did "hard knock life" with the snapping part, they got into a rampant (and loud) discussion of how to snap, and proceeded to practice throughout the rest of the show.

    Yes, I politely asked them to quiet down. No it didnt do any good.

    Its not the phone, its the jerk using it, and those same jerks have ALWAYS A) worn hats to theaters, B)jammed their knees into your seat (partially the theaters fault for building seats for 5' 100 lb people) and C) insisted on sitting dead center in a row of people and getting up three times during the movie.

    I would much prefer the devices be in the SEATS and controlled by a consensus of people in the theater.

    Maeryk

    --
    Feminine Protection? What is that? A chartreuse flame thrower?
  6. Re:Does it... by Mantrid · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "Seriously, there should be laws saying that all cellphones can operate in vibrate-mode only if in any public place."

    Seriously? SERIOUSLY? You think we need *more* laws for stupid crap like this? What is your justification? Because it annoys you? That's a justification for a new law? A noise made in public? What's next laws against talking in public? After all that might just annoying someone else - so they should be forced to write notes to each other, or work out a serious of winks and body groping or something.

    WTF, I can't belive that there are truly people that stupid in this world. It truly boggles the mind. I can only hope that you're a troll...please tell me your just a troll...