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We're Jammin', Hope You Like Jammin' Too
theodp writes "Slate ponders whether a climate where anything can be photographed or surreptitiously recorded means the once-esoteric world of cell-phone jamming will become mainstream. Sites now offer portable cell-phone jammers that can provide you with the same kind of security bubbles used to thwart industrial spies, hostage-takers and bomb detonators. While actively jamming a cell-phone signal is illegal in the US, a distributor reports most of his sales go to US customers, including universities which use the technology to stop students from diddling away on phones during lectures."
What? Wouldn't blocking the cell phone signal only prevent the person from sending the picture off? The photograph could still be taken and simply sent later, once the cell phone is away from the jamming signal, right?
At first I thought this post had something to do with music!
I wouldn't mind being able to jam phones within, say, 10 feet of me. One of my biggest pet peeves is people on their cell phones. Because, you know, the further away they are, the louder you have to yell into the phone for them to hear you...
http://wsulug.org
The grass is only greener, if you don't take care of your own lawn.
Sorry, but we cannot sell this cell phone jammer to UK customers
:)
Apparently, it's not very legal in the UK either
Cell phone jamming should be legalized, and it should become more widespread.
I'd specifically like to see cell-phones jammed in movie theaters, and schools. I'm pretty good about shutting my phone off when I go to these places, but sometimes I forget, and sometimes when I forget, I get calls... it'd be a whole lot easier if the building disabled the phone for me, so I don't have to.
The operation of transmitters designed to jam or block wireless communications is a violation of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended ("Act"). See 47 U.S.C. Sections 301, 302a, 333. The Act prohibits any person from willfully or maliciously interfering with the radio communications of any station licensed or authorized under the Act or operated by the U.S. government. 47 U.S.C. Section 333. The manufacture, importation, sale or offer for sale, including advertising, of devices designed to block or jam wireless transmissions is prohibited. 47 U.S.C. Section 302a(b). Parties in violation of these provisions may be subject to the penalties set out in 47 U.S.C. Sections 501-510. Fines for a first offense can range as high as $11,000 for each violation or imprisonment for up to one year, and the device used may also be seized and forfeited to the U.S. government
o ns/blockingjamming.html
From
http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/cellular/operati
30% Troll, 50% Underrated, 10% Interesting
Score:5, Troll
CF and Memory Stick expansion is beginning to be commonplace in these camera phones. Jamming delays transmission from "100% Live", but does little else.
You want to shoot X-Rays strong enough to wipe Flash Mem? Be my guest!
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
While I'm tempted to use this to silence those inconsiderate bastards in the movie theaters, there is a LOT of risk involved. How would you feel if, because of your jamming, someone didn't get an important emergency phone call and got fired / dumped / beaten senseless / etc.? If something were to happen because they didn't get a call, and it was found out that you were jamming the phone, could you be held liable for any proven damages?
Regardless of how rude it is for people to be talking on cell phones anywhere and everywhere, you have no right to decide for yourself, "They shouldn't be talking, so I'll stop them."
I don't have a cell phone. There's too much drama involved.
While it is clearly illegal to jam the signal their is nothing against constructing buildings that jams the signal by just the nature of how the radio signal travels through the building.
HEre an article on home to legal jam cell phones.
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Score:5, Troll
Sometimes, though, cell phones are absolutely necessary - my wife is pregnant, right? What happens if I'm at a movie or at school when she goes into labour? Not only would she be royally pissed off once I actually got out of the movie/class (some classes are 3 hours long), but what happens if something went wrong?
Regulation isn't going to help. Jammers like these aren't going to help. What would help is people all punching out a guy with a live cell phone in a theatre if it wasn't a critical call. Let social engineering do the work.
Condemnant quod non intellegunt.
the dulcet tones of Chief Wiggum in my head all morning...
Years later, a doctor will tell me that I have an I.Q. of 48, and am what some people call "mentally retarded".
Here's another page on the same "cellphone-like" product.
I don't agree with random people able to jam the phone signal. However, it makes sense for certain places, like movie theaters, banks, etc, although they should clearly have a sign saying "Warning: Cellphone signal jamming inside the building" or something.
If a criminal is attacking you right now a cell phone is mostly useful as a second-rate bludgeon. Or maybe, with phones getting so small these days, you could get him to swallow it and use it as a tracking device :-/
But being able to call emergency services can be very important in the phases leading up to an attack. It can also be helpful for witnesses who can't get physically involved to summon the police or ambulance. This changes all that.
I see it as most frightening in cases where the attacker has a lot personally invested in the crime. The abusive ex. The stalker. The dangerously obsessed. In those cases, where the defender needs every available resource, the sudden disappearance of an important tool can be a matter of life and death. We've already seen stalkers use GPS transponders to track their ex girlfriends' cars. So there are at least a few geeks gone bad out there.
I'm afraid I don't have any solutions. These things are already illegal to use. Any thoughts on what a prospective victim or the authorities can do? And yes, I've already factored in "Have a gun." It's not an option for everyone. It is only part of the soluation when it is.
The man who never alters his opinion is like the stagnant water and breeds Reptiles of the Mind -- William Blake
What? Wouldn't blocking the cell phone signal only prevent the person from sending the picture off? The photograph could still be taken and simply sent later, once the cell phone is away from the jamming signal, right?
This is true. But I don't think that's the primary application of cellphone jammers.
Yeah, well, Beethoven's Fifth, being played through a crappy 2" piezoelectric disk speaker as the ringtone on some Nokia in a movie theater. That's the best reason for jamming that I can come up with. (Why custom ring tones? Don't people know those things sound as stupid as coffee can mufflers on Honda Civics?)
I have had cellphones with work, and was glad to get rid of them when I did. I have no interest in being on an electronic leash, forced to be accountable to someone - somewhere. Or standing in the line-up at Wal*Mart, the ring and promptly following, "Hey, it's me. Whatcha doing? Wanna come over?" (Who is "me"? If I slept with this person, it must not have been very memorable.)
In short, I *hate* cellphones.
Quoting from article: including universities which use the technology to stop students from diddling away on phones during lectures.
Hey, if the student diddles quietly, it's his funeral when his GPA drops and he gets kicked out of school.
Cellphones with integrated digital cameras might have their place, though. I know a university student whose math professor puts excellent and comprehensive notes on the blackboard. So he started to bring a digital camera and a small tripod to class, and takes pictures of each blackboard full of material. He sent me a sample a while ago. An integrated camera/phone would never run out of available internal memory. Personally, copying the notes down would help me remember the material, but whatever works for him... there's a certain style of practical problem solving skill at work there: he's a second-year engineering student; I think I'll have to hire him when he's done. :)
Fire and Meat. Yummy.
In the UK, all the major exam boards will drop you from every subject you do with that board if you so much as walk into an exam room with a mobile phone. THis is one of the few decent things AQA and Edexcel have ever done, ever (Jesus christ, they make Standard Oil look like Greenpeace).
I'm amazing. You aren't. SUCK IT
My first thought when reading this was one of glee... I'd LOVE to jam those dolts that insist on yakking on their cell phones during the movie.
Also, where I work (critical care area of the hospital), cell phones are explicitly forbidden, so this might be useful to keep in my lab coat pocket ("What? your cell phone just cut out? Hmmm... must be interference from our cardiac monitors") Yes, I'm sure their conversation is critically important, but accurate telemetry from my unstable cardiac patients interests me far more than somebody telling their friends which bar they'll be patronizing when they get discharged from my ER. You wouldn't even believe how torqued (even violent) some people can get if you ask them to turn off their phone... it's not like you're telling them to STFU; you're just asking them to take their conversation outside. I have no problem with someone communicating with their family to apprise them of a patient's condition... but we have land-lines for that, folks; you just have to walk ten feet...
Now if they had one that only blocked outgoing calls...
Even if a man chops off your hand with a sword, you still have two nice, sharp bones to stick in his eyes.
Don't people know those things sound as stupid as coffee can mufflers on Honda Civics?
:)
In my experience, the people "rocking" Beethoven (or, even better, some sort of Dragonball Z-inspired theme) on their cells are the people who then drive off in their coffee-can mufflered, lowered, clear-taillight Civic hatchbacks. So the answer to your question is no
I think there is a world market for maybe five personal web logs.
I will use my psychic mind reading powers to say that you must be atleast 35.
How come every generation of old people feels the need to criticize every new technology that comes around by mis-characterizing it?
I have no interest in being on an electronic leash, forced to be accountable to someone - somewhere
If you put yourself in a situation where you're "on an electronic leash", then that's your fault. Do you realize that you don't have to answer a cell phone whenever it rings? It's pretty nifty technology, you have to press a button to answer it.
If you say that the advantages of having a cell phone aren't worth it for you, that's fine. But the only real disadvantage is how much it costs and having to carry it in your pocket. The whole leash thing simply tells me something about your relationship with the would-be leash-holder.
I imagine some older folks didn't like the telephone when it came out - I refuse to be on a leash when I'm at home, forced to be accountable to someone - somewhere.
Cretinous users of Nextel phones have got to be the worst. For those who haven't experienced this, it's all the fun of hearing one side of a conversation, together with the other side of the conversation, _and_ a piercing BEEP-BEEP when the half-duplex switches directions. Beyond the merely rude, these devices monopolize any environment they're in. So far, my only countermeasures have been to face the user and shout "Breaker 1-9" at random intervals.
I think a taser might be a more interesting solution.
;)
They have a stand-off distance of 15 feet, so you should have no problem creating a nice quiet area around you.
Happy hunting
GL
I will use my psychic mind reading powers to say that you must be atleast 35.
Heheh... Nope, but I'm old beyond my years.
How come every generation of old people feels the need to criticize every new technology that comes around by mis-characterizing it?Actually, I love technology; my career choices undoubtedly reflect that.
If you put yourself in a situation where you're "on an electronic leash", then that's your fault. Do you realize that you don't have to answer a cell phone whenever it rings? It's pretty nifty technology, you have to press a button to answer it.I know. But the reality is that when the phone rings, you feel obliged to answer it. Then, pretty soon, it's a nuisance and makes you feel guilty.
Of course, you can turn off the ringer. Then, the problem becomes, "Huh-NEEEEEEE... Why didn't you answer the phone when I called? What were you doing?"
People become accustomed to being able to reach you and talk to you about every stupid little thing that happens in their lives.
For the very same reason I eschew land-line telephones or ICQ and other messaging systems, and like e-mail: It's a constant interruption. With e-mail, on the other hand, the sender can send the message when it's convenient for them. I can then read it and reply when it's convenient for me. Telephones, in particular cellphones, require it to be convenient for both parties to talk at the same time.
If you say that the advantages of having a cell phone aren't worth it for you, that's fine. But the only real disadvantage is how much it costs and having to carry it in your pocket. The whole leash thing simply tells me something about your relationship with the would-be leash-holder.Okay. Try this. Turn off your cellphone for a week. Tell me what you get from your friends. "I tried to call you, but you didn't answer." Endlessly. You've built up the expectation that you will be available to discuss all sorts of stupid things, including the weather, any time they're feeling bored in the lineup at the grocery store.
My friends know how I feel about cellphones, and telephones in general. We communicate by e-mail. We arrange to get together to drink beer by e-mail.
I imagine some older folks didn't like the telephone when it came out - I refuse to be on a leash when I'm at home, forced to be accountable to someone - somewhere.For sure. But there's still the escape with a regular telephone. If you don't answer your land line, they assume that you're out. If you don't answer your cellphone - which, by tradition, is always with you - then they assume that you're ignoring them.
Fire and Meat. Yummy.
Not terrible arguments, but I still maintain you're putting yourself in that situation. Tell your wife and friends:
"Look... I don't feel like answering my phone all the time, and I don't always have it on me anyway. Leave a message."
I know when I call someone's cell phone and they don't answer, I assume they don't have it on them or they're in an area where they don't get service.
Wow, it's a miracle anyone was ever born before cell phones were invented!
It's obvious that the father's availability or knowledge of the birth has no effect on whether or not it happens, but it does have a huge impact on the experience for both mother and father. In centuries past, the father typically just didn't know until he came home from work. In decades past, he only knew if he was in a location where he could be reached by phone. Today, he can be notified virtually anywhere.
That's a *good* thing, a serious, technology-provided, quality of life improvement.
When my wife started labor with my youngest child, she was at home in Utah and I was leading some meetings for a client in southern California. Thanks to modern technology, I didn't miss it.
She called my cell on her way to the hospital. When my phone vibrated, caller ID told me who it was, so I interrupted my presentation to take the call, then announced that my wife was in labor, I was leaving and we would have to reschedule. In the rental car, the NeverLost system guided me to the airport so I didn't have to juggle maps, freeing me to call the airline to change my plane reservation. At the airport there were long lines at the counter, but I used the kiosk to print my boarding pass and head to the plane (which, fortuitously, was leaving 20 minutes later, direct to SLC). I got to the hospital 2 hours and 30 minutes after she called and two hours before my son was born.
Without the cellphone, I would probably not have known she was in labor until we broke for lunch, three hours after I got the call.
I got to hold my wife's hand during the labor and delivery, got to cut the umbilical cord and be the first to hold my newborn son, got to take pictures of him when he was less than 60 seconds old and got to spend time with him and my wife together, shortly after the birth, and before the hordes of relatives (and my other kids) descended upon us.
That sort of thing is well worth the occasional interrupted class/meeting/movie/whatever. People who don't turn off their phones, or use quiet mode, are annoying, but their lack of manners is no reason to penalize everyone else.
Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
Sorry, I'm not 35 and I'm another cell phone hater.
Are the devices inherently evil? Of course not. However, in the vast majority of people who have them, they encourage behavior that ranges from irritating to extremely annoying to downright dangerous.
I know any number of otherwise nice people who will answer these things (or at least reflexively check the screen) in the middle of face-to-face conversations, which is the height of rudeness. Some of these people do it enough that I really don't enjoy hanging around them anymore. For one of them it's even caused problems with her marriage - her husband can't stand it either and she doesn't seem to be able to kick the habit.
On trains, the racket of cellphones ringing and getting yacked into has destroyed what was once a restful way to travel. Other public spaces have suffered as well. People who are able to maintain normal volume levels when talking with the person next to them are for some reason unable to resist screaming their stupid inane shit into the little plastic box. In fact, I think one of the upsetting things about cell phones is that by raising the volume level of conversations I'm exposed to, it's correspondingly raised my awareness of what morons most people are. I'd like to think it's just that the same people who choose to have cellphones are also subintelligent twits, but depressingly I've seen no particular basis for that.
And, of course, almost every time I look into the window of a car after it's executed some brain-dead maneuver on the city streets (last-minute unsignalled turns, cutting other drivers off, almost mowing down pedestrians in crosswalks, etc.), the driver has a phone stuck to his/her ear.
If the price came down to about $100 I'd happily buy a jammer and carry it always.
"Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it." -- GBS
Sure, some cellphone users are inconsiderate, but you don't blame every driver on the road, just the ones who drive recklessly. Also, I find it interesting that you talk about revenge, isn't dropping people conversations a form of revenge for their offending you with their conversations? When you get your jammer, I doubt if you'll politely ask anyone "Do you mind me making the service you pay for and posibly need unavailable", or will you just decide for them.
Just because you were wondering about my reality, my bill tells me that I use about 150/minutes a month, I'd say 20% are work related, and 60% my wife, and the other 20% my family. I am not a "heavy cellphone user", but I need to be sure that the phone is on. When my phone vibrates (I always keep it on vibrate and in my pocket), and I am in a public place, I answer it with a short low "hello", then either "I'm sorry I can't talk right now" or "hold on", but then again I am generally very civil. Maybe that is how you act, but I seem to think of you as less civil.
A definition of self-rightous is someone who would do an illegal act just because they think they are right. Not paying attention to the road (cellphone, radio, sex) is often called reckless driving, and as others have pointed out jamming transmitions of radio is also illegal. Both of those are wrong.
The grass is only greener, if you don't take care of your own lawn.