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Why Mobile Phones Are Annoying

Posted by timothy on from the because-they-don't-reliably-explode dept.

griffinn writes "Jakob Neilsen recently conducted a study comparing the perceived annoyance level of two commuters having a face-to-face conversation and one commuter talking on the mobile phone. Interestingly enough, subjects were also asked whether the ring tone is annoying, and people didn't find the ring to be particularly bad."

5 of 519 comments (clear)

  1. So that explains it by violet16 · · Score: 5, Funny
    Furthermore, the actors conducted half of the conversations at a normal loudness level, whereas the other half were exaggeratedly loud (as measured on a volume meter)

    I think these guys have been conducting this experiment on the train I catch to work for the last two years.

    --
    I should buy some cement.
  2. Re:Ringtones? by Eric+Savage · · Score: 5, Funny

    At least you can make fun of them for paying $0.99 for a 50 Cent ringtone.

    --

    This is not the greatest sig in the world, this is just a tribute.
  3. As Don Jolly would say by danormsby · · Score: 5, Funny
    [nokia tune=annoying] ring [/nokia]

    Hello. HELLO.

    I'm writing on slashdot.SLASHDOT

    Nah its rubbish

    --
    Omnis amans amens
  4. Apparently... yes! by FunkyRat · · Score: 5, Funny

    I occassionally do some work for a person who works as a producer in Los Angeles. So far, she has answered her cellphone at a museum, at a classical music concert, while in meetings and on a date. The last time I called her she mentioned after about three minutes that she was at a movie theater, watching a movie. I asked her why she even bothered to answer her mobile. I think she was actually dumbfounded that anyone would not answer their phone when it rang.

  5. Re:Very interesting hypotehsis... by Alioth · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just once, I want to try this.

    Obtain an old 1960s rotary dial telephone, as found in all British households (since at the time, the phone company was the GPO and were the only people to be allowed to connect phones, so the range was extremely limited. It did include the Ericofon though).

    Inside the phone, insert the guts of a cheap GSM cell phone. Build some electronics to change the LD pulsing from the rotary dial into something suitable to cause the cellphone to dial. Maybe add an extra button as a 'Send' button for the cell phone. Have the loudspeaker of the phone which the ringtone normally plays through connected to a circuit that rings the phone bell.

    Catch the train.

    Receive phone call. "Rrrring rring". Pull out old phone from bag, place on table. Lift receiver.

    "HI I'M ON THE TRAIN!"

    Phone a friend with the rotary dial, too.

    Observe looks of fellow passengers.

    --
    Oolite: Elite-like game. For Mac, Linux and Windows