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School Uniform To Block Cell Phone Emissions

Foehg writes "ForeignPolicy.com reports, 'A Belarusian textile company has developed a special school uniform that protects kids from electromagnetic radiation emanating from their cellphones. The uniform features a dedicated pocket that can store the phone and make it safe for those who wear it.'" Now someone has to create an oven mitt that can protect you from the harmful radiation given off by your microwave oven.

153 comments

  1. I think this could be potentially good. by BlueKitties · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If it also blocks transmission, then students can keep their cell phone on them without worrying about disrupting class or losing their phone.

    --
    "Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad." [Ecclesiastes 7:3]
    1. Re:I think this could be potentially good. by ILuvRamen · · Score: 1

      I'm pretty sure that's why they did it. The company probably said "we can disrupt all cell phones kept in this pocket" and they said "WE'LL TAKE 1000!" The whole radiation protection is just an excuse.

      --
      Google's Super Secret Search Algorithm: SELECT @search_results FROM internet WHERE @search_results = 'good'
    2. Re:I think this could be potentially good. by eln · · Score: 4, Insightful

      If it blocks transmission, none of the students will use it for its intended purpose, because they want to text their friends in the middle of the day regardless of the rules. They'll just keep their cell phones in another pocket.

    3. Re:I think this could be potentially good. by HateBreeder · · Score: 1

      I think he was just being a grammar Nazi regarding the use of the word emissions vs. transmissions.

      --
      Sigs are for the weak.
    4. Re:I think this could be potentially good. by NotBornYesterday · · Score: 1

      If it interferes with the phone's signal, won't the phone will just up its transmission power and drain its battery faster, while possibly subjecting the kid to comparable levels of radio waves?

      --
      I prefer rogues to imbeciles because they sometimes take a rest.
    5. Re:I think this could be potentially good. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Did we TELL you to actually bring in reasoned opinions on a decent application of at-first-glance absurd technology? DID WE TELL YOU TO THINK? No! Now get back to your chanting! idleispants... pleasestop... idleispants... pleasestop...

    6. Re:I think this could be potentially good. by drukawski · · Score: 0
      RTFA!!

      a Belarusian textile company has developed a special school uniform that protects kids from... electromagnetic radiation emanating from their cellphones!

      -And translated from the original article in Russian-

      Let us recall, WHO (World Health Organization) extended information about the unfavorable consequences of the action of the electromagnetic radiations of cell phone on the children and adolescents. Foreign, including Russian, studies prove, that the use by the rising generation of such apparatuses is dangerous for the health. Electromagnetic radiations most strongly act on the central nervous and immune systems of organism.

      The uniforms even come with a free tinfoil lined hoodie

    7. Re:I think this could be potentially good. by shentino · · Score: 2, Informative

      That would be semantics nazi you insensitive clod!

      Your geek card please.

    8. Re:I think this could be potentially good. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes they will. The intended purpose is to *store* the phone safely. So if they want to text their friends I'm willing to bet they take the phone out of their pocket before texting. Of course if they're specifically waiting for a text then they may be tempted to store your phone in a regular pocket. So should work most of the time. If it works even 50% of the time its a winner in my book.

    9. Re:I think this could be potentially good. by xaxa · · Score: 1

      This is Belarus, the country worst-affected by the Chernobyl disaster. It's not unreasonable for them to be wary of radiation after all the damage it's done to their people. AFAIK we don't know for sure whether mobile phone radiation can cause lasting damage, especially to children.

    10. Re:I think this could be potentially good. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      It's maybe understandable, given the poor understanding most people have of the physics involved and the fear we've instilled in the general public about "radiation", but it *is* unreasonable because cell phones don't generate ionizing radiation, at least not as a functional part of their operation, so they aren't even vaguely comparable to Chernobyl.

      And given the more than 100 years of commercial radio use -- much of that use at significantly higher power levels than any modern cell phone generates -- it seems unlikely that "mobile phone radiation" will cause any sort of lasting damage, especially to children. Not to mention the thousands of years of exposure humans have had to the day-star's wide-spectrum irradiation, which exposes children and adults to much more radiated power than any cell phone, and with much greater frequency.

      / Not really expecting to dispel irrational fears with reason

    11. Re:I think this could be potentially good. by nurb432 · · Score: 1

      Or they follow directions and just don't bring them to school.

      --
      ---- Booth was a patriot ----
    12. Re:I think this could be potentially good. by dotgain · · Score: 0, Redundant

      Well, you obviously weren't born yesterday, but kindly stop trying to confuse those who were

    13. Re:I think this could be potentially good. by tompaulco · · Score: 1

      How do they expect to develop a healthy immunity to radiation if they refuse to expose themselves to it?

      --
      If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
    14. Re:I think this could be potentially good. by Fulcrum+of+Evil · · Score: 1

      AFAIK we don't know for sure whether mobile phone radiation can cause lasting damage, especially to children.

      Yes we do, and no it doesn't. 2GHz is the right frequency to warm your body slightly (at 2-3W during xmit, woohoo), but it can't cause cancer like the sun does. Meanwhile, those who worry about cell phones killing them probably like being outside.

      --
      "We returned the General to El Salvador, or maybe Guatemala, it's difficult to tell from 10,000 feet"
    15. Re:I think this could be potentially good. by PieSquared · · Score: 1

      If you're one of the 99% of people with cellphones who actually are trying to text in class or the 1% required to answer a phone in case of emergency (as in a job at a fire department), then this doesn't help you. Doesn't hurt either - just have to put the phone in a backpack or alter your uniform slightly in a non-visible way.

      And if you're one of the fictional people who really do just have their cell phone for emergencies or use after school, the feature you're looking for is the "power" button.

      --
      Does a line appended to your comment give your post meaning in and of itself, or only in relation to those without?
    16. Re:I think this could be potentially good. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh - I'll get the tinfoil hats!

    17. Re:I think this could be potentially good. by cloudmaster · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure there are many students at schools with uniforms who also have a job where they're on-call 24x7...

    18. Re:I think this could be potentially good. by Qiadron · · Score: 1

      What is this about semitic nazis?

  2. Great! by Vrallis · · Score: 2, Insightful

    This is great news for all of those students going to schools that permit them to carry cell phones.

    Wait, what?

    1. Re:Great! by SomeJoel · · Score: 1

      This is great news for all of those students going to schools that permit them to carry cell phones.

      Wait, what?

      My son's elementary school lets the teachers decide whether or not students may bring cell phones to class. So far, most of them do allow them.

      --
      <Complete your profile by adding a signature!>
    2. Re:Great! by Vrallis · · Score: 1

      Good news. While I think cells are a bit overused by kids today, if I was a parent I'd want my kids to keep a cell on them for emergencies. Make it a disciplinary issue for kids using them when they shouldn't, but don't ban them outright like many schools do.

    3. Re:Great! by KuNgFo0 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The helicopter moms would probably throw a fit if they couldn't check up on their precious snowflakes.

    4. Re:Great! by barzok · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Cell phones in elementary school? Seriously?

    5. Re:Great! by ae1294 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      No it's not. It's never about protecting the children.

    6. Re:Great! by rootofevil · · Score: 0

      i wish i had mod points.

      well put.

      --
      turn up the jukebox and tell me a lie
    7. Re:Great! by FlickieStrife · · Score: 2, Funny

      Don't act so surprised. I live in Cleveland, and some elementary schools have flippin day cares.... for the STUDENTS!

    8. Re:Great! by FlickieStrife · · Score: 1

      More of a marketing scam i'm guessing. Seriously, i thought people were over this. It won't be long before we have publicly available EMPs like the Matrix. Damn Sentinels.

    9. Re:Great! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The most effective way of reducing electromagnetic radiation from cellphones is to turn them off. The second most effective method is to install a femtocell in each classroom, allowing the cellphones to reduce the signal strength to almost nothing. A braindead method is to add lots of material which blocks cellphone transmissions, causing all cellphones to increase the output signal strength.

    10. Re:Great! by ae1294 · · Score: 1

      More of a marketing scam i'm guessing.

      No company does anything for any other reason than to make money. Nothing really wrong with that but when you start claiming 'it's for the children' people need to realize you're full of it. Honestly this is just a tin-foil hat for mommy and daddies little gift to humanity.

      Fear based marketing is just plan wrong.

    11. Re:Great! by ae1294 · · Score: 1

      Yes but you see this new method pulls lots of power from the cellphones battery so it indeed protects the children in that they will have to buy new batteries for their phones every few months or if worse comes to worse said batteries explode killing them....

      Good news everybody! We just saved all of the children by killing them ourselves...

    12. Re:Great! by ae1294 · · Score: 0, Redundant

      !!! Good News Everybody !!!!!

      Be the first on your block to have the new improved safety bag!
      Not only does it allow you to safely carry your cellphone in your pocket but it's now removable as well!
      Get yours today for only $39.99 each!

      http://www.consultbc.com/stuff/TheSafetyBag.jpg (Yes it's perfectly safe to view - honest)

    13. Re:Great! by jonbryce · · Score: 1

      But if you arrange the tin foil, or whatever it is, so that the phone is outside the tin-foil shielding area when inside the pocket, then the phone will still work, but the rays from it won't hit the body.

    14. Re:Great! by ae1294 · · Score: 1

      !!! Good News Everybody !!!!!

      Be the first on your block to have the new improved Safety Bag(tm)!
      Not only does it allow you to safely carry your cellphone in your pocket but it's now removable as well!
      You asked me to 'Thing of the Children' and I did!!!! And I'm getting rich off it bitches!
      Get yours today for only $39.99 each!

      http://www.consultbc.com/stuff/TheSafetyBag.jpg (Yes it's perfectly safe to view - honest)

    15. Re:Great! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If it's just for emergencies, then even if they're banned, the school shouldn't find out about it. Just keep the phone in your pocket, and only whip it out for an emergency.

    16. Re:Great! by ae1294 · · Score: 0, Troll

      FUCK YOU MR MODERATOR!
      It's fucking Marketing.. That's how it works... You SCREAM the same FUCKING thing over and over again UNTIL people BUY IT..

      FUCK YOU,
      ae1294

    17. Re:Great! by petermgreen · · Score: 1

      this post is NOT about blocking calls, it is about protecting kids from electromagnetic radiation.
      Mobile phones use power control so if you try and block the signal path you just end up forcing them to transmit at higher power and/or losing communication completely.

      --
      note: i'm known as plugwash most places but i screwd up registering that here somehow in the past and now can't register
    18. Re:Great! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Here's the reason why in schools in my city they allow you to have the cellphone with you and on at all times and the idea of a school requiring cellphones off or away at any moment seems irresponsible and down right dangerous:
      It's call virtual kidnapping. (http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2008/04/virtual_kidnapp.html)

      The idea is simple, get a target, wait till they go somewhere you know they have no signal, call the parents and say you have their child, and if they don't pay in a couple hours the child will be killed.

      There's not enough time to be careful about this or realize what is happening. How can we expect the parents to know this if they can't reach their child. And because the actual kidnapping doesn't occur it's very hard to track the crime.

      So now people can use their cellphones everywhere, it's actually promoted that you keep your cellphone on (in silent mode where needed). Instead of thinking that the cellphones are what made the children not pay attention, distract themselves, disrupt the class, teachers started acting as if though (gasp) the students where the cause.

      By enforcing responsible use students rarely ever use the cellphone for texting or calling, they rarely receive calls and most of the time they are emergencies that should disrupt the class. And in the rare times when someone calls in middle of class (generally because they didn't realize you'd be there) most people can realize when it's not an emergency and don't answer. It's amazing: who'd would have though that treating the cause and beliefs over the symptoms and tools would work?

  3. Works two ways by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If if protects the kids from phone emissions, then it should block tower signals from getting to the phones.

    1. Re:Works two ways by Convector · · Score: 1

      This debate's hard enough without bringing facts into it..

  4. Or you could... by Monkeedude1212 · · Score: 1, Informative

    Turn your phone off? Take the battery out?

    Can a teacher not confiscate a cell phone anymore if he catches a student using it?

    1. Re:Or you could... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      How long since you been in a school? Policing such policies is a waste of time and effort. If kids really want to bring in cell phones, they will. Something built into uniforms would allow for policing that doesn't requires effort. Of course, this won't stop the cell phones in kid's backpack unless the backpack is part of the uniform.

    2. Re:Or you could... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Something built into uniforms would allow for policing that doesn't requires effort.

      How does policing not require effort. How do you stop a student from taking the cell phone out of the special pocket and putting it somewhere else on their body? How do you stop a student from taking the cell phone out of the special pocket and using it?

    3. Re:Or you could... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How do you temporarily take the battery out of the child's iPhone?

      I wonder how long before we implant cellphones, and have an external screw mount for an antenna?

      Could be a new meaning for "getting screwed."

    4. Re:Or you could... by Monkeedude1212 · · Score: 1

      It's going to be just as much of an issue of policing the kids to keep their cell phones in their clothes as it is to keep them from using it.

      The idea of "using the uniform to enforce the no-cell-phone policy" is ridiculous, and will be exploited at every turn. I mean if I kid pulls out his phone to READ a text message... Then its not going to be in his uniform!

      And the article states

      The uniform features a dedicated pocket that can store the phone and make it safe for those who wear it.

      The phone is unsafe? Unsafe how? Protecting kids from radiation? Stopping it from ringing in class? Like I said. Turnz it off.

    5. Re:Or you could... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think the point of this is to stop radiation from cell phones, nothing to do with the school's cell phone policy or anything like that. Dont you know cell phone radiation can reduce your sperm count?

    6. Re:Or you could... by SilverEyes · · Score: 1

      Dont you know cell phone radiation can reduce your sperm count?

      No I didn't, but heat can. Could be why males have a scrotum and why sperm counts decline when there's too much heat. Then again, males produce sperm very fast, so long-term effects are more questionable.

      --
      Interesting.
    7. Re:Or you could... by mysidia · · Score: 1

      Don't allow backpacks in classrooms; make students stash those in lockers before class and bring only their notebooks and writing materials.

    8. Re:Or you could... by mysidia · · Score: 1

      Make all their pockets 'special' pockets and don't inform students of that fact.

      And now they need a material to make the rest of the clothing out of (other than the pocket) that changes colors very noticeably if directly exposed to RF radiation.

      If Billy's shirt is glowing bright red, then it means he's got a cell phone there

  5. This could be marginally useful to prevent ringing by mr_mischief · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This is a pretty long string of "ifs", but it might be an idea for that Iowa schools that wants to use technical means to cut down on phone use during class.

    • if it blocks the radiation effectively enough to prevent reception sufficiently
    • if you require the kids to have their phone in it during class under normal circumstances
    • if you're willing to enforce the rule
    • if not all the kids are sufficiently sneaky to keep an unshielded phone from being found

    ... then this sort of Faraday enclosure, even if it's just a small separate bag and not part of the clothing, might fit the needs of schools that wish to prevent general disruption but still allow emergency use of the phones and to allow use of them between classes or at lunch.

  6. Is it me by SnarfQuest · · Score: 2, Funny

    Is it me, or is the scientific knowledge of these school officials even worse than the slashdot crowd?

    --
    Who would win this election: Andrew Weiner vs Andrew Weiner's weiner.
  7. Re:This could be marginally useful to prevent ring by Kral_Blbec · · Score: 1

    if you're willing to enforce the rule

    Hey! This is America! We don't do things like that anymore!

  8. Concern by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And what about pedophiles trying to kidnap students? Is there less worry for them, since they may not be able to place a call, if their clothes are partially blocking cell phone signals?

    1. Re:Concern by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Easy. Remove clothes. Problem solved.

    2. Re:Concern by SilverEyes · · Score: 1
      --
      Interesting.
  9. WTH? by Dr_Ken · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If you don't want the students to make/receive calls or text msgs why let 'em have phones with them at all? Wouldn't it be cheaper just order them left in their lockers? Paying for uniforms to block them seems overly complicated and expensive for the very little good it does. This seems more like a scam on the part of a company that wants to feed at the trough of the education bureaucracy. Or so it seems to me.

    --
    "If you want to know what happens to you when you die, go look at some dead stuff."
    1. Re:WTH? by yttrstein · · Score: 1

      "Emission", not "transmission". I read it that way first too, and I thought it was a much better idea than what the

    2. Re:WTH? by Zantetsuken · · Score: 1

      Because that still doesn't work. You do realize the kids would still put phones in their pockets, and only pull em out when they wanna send a message, or in their backpacks. For years now backpack makers have had those dangly pouches for cell phones (bad idea though cuz that says "Hey, there's a phone in here! Steal me!"). Even though software and movie piracy is illegal, people still do it. Even though automatic firearms are illegal for people without the proper permits, gang members still obtain and use them. Even though lying under oath in court is illegal, politicians still do it...

      I guess this really would teach the kids something useful for the real world - "It's only wrong if you get caught."

      What this really is though, is a publicity stunt - like that moron politician or whatever he was a few months back "Let's Kevlar/armor plate textbooks so students can use them if they get shot at!"

    3. Re:WTH? by Dr_Ken · · Score: 1

      Well if the phones "emit" dangerous levels of radiation (something that should be easily measurable) then ban the phones outright. Dressing them up in school board approved radiation suits just seems silly. That's like dressing them up in fireproof suits so the students can play with flamethrowers safely. But honestly it sounds like a tempest in tea pot minor league scam kinda thing going on here.

      --
      "If you want to know what happens to you when you die, go look at some dead stuff."
    4. Re:WTH? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      That's like dressing them up in fireproof suits so the students can play with flamethrowers safely.

      That would totally rock! I wish I were back in school and you were my principal.

    5. Re:WTH? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It didn't say they didn't want the kids not to receive calls...just that they would be "protected" from the dangerous(sic) RF levels coming from a cellphone.

    6. Re:WTH? by Fulcrum+of+Evil · · Score: 1

      Even though automatic firearms are illegal for people without the proper permits, gang members still obtain and use them.

      To be fair, they're cheaper on the black market, and gang bangers probably want them for things that would be a felony anyway. Would you spend $15k on an AK instead of $300 from a smuggler if you were planning to shoot up your enemy's house?

      --
      "We returned the General to El Salvador, or maybe Guatemala, it's difficult to tell from 10,000 feet"
  10. Quick, someone call Al Gore! by FlickieStrife · · Score: 1

    I am so tired of everyone freaking the fuck out about Manbearpig. Break out the fucking tin foil helmets and duct tape the god damn windows. Can ANYONE cite a case where someone, ANYONE died because of cell phone radiation (cancer patients/ Pete & Pete-esque metal plate in head people don't count).

    1. Re:Quick, someone call Al Gore! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not yet. Give it another 20 years. They will be linked to melanoma or thyroid cancer, in all likelihood.

    2. Re:Quick, someone call Al Gore! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

      Well, back before US cell phones had their output power reduced from 6 watts to well 6/10th of a watt, I had a cousin who used one of those 6 watt phones a lot. (business use) It wasn't a surprise that he developed a tumor in his brain, near where the antenna was so frequently placed. He died. It's probably impossible to prove that the frequent heating of those brain cells was the only factor that caused the cancer. Although it has been demonstrated in lab rats that it was a common occurrence, it would probably be equally impossible to prove it wasn't the cause. (He had no history of brain cancer in either side of his family, and all his relatives far outlived him.)

      But at today's levels, I don't think it's a big worry, especially if the kiddies are just carrying them in their pockets at school, not spending hours in school talking on them! I know RF can have more of an effect on young'ens, but I think this worry about an occasional ping to the phone system is just silly.

    3. Re:Quick, someone call Al Gore! by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 1

      What gives you any justification for "in all likelihood"?

      How do you get from no evidence whatsoever and many massive studies to "20 years from now cancer, in all likelihood"?

      I know people want there to be something wrong so their mental models can be justified, giving them a disasterbatory rush, but get real people.

      --
      (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
  11. Okay, lets make this clear now. by FunPika · · Score: 1

    This protects students from radiation that cell phones emit, they do NOT block calls, text messages, etc. telling by the text of the article.

    --
    After years of not using a signature, I am going to make one to say the following: Fuck Beta
    1. Re:Okay, lets make this clear now. by RingDev · · Score: 2, Funny

      This protects students from radiation that cell phones emit, they do NOT block calls, text messages, etc.

      So it blocks the radiation, but it does not block the radiation?

      Sounds like a great investment, IMO!

      -Rick

      --
      "Most people in the U.S. wouldn't know they live in a tyrannical state if it walked up and grabbed their junk." - MyFirs
    2. Re:Okay, lets make this clear now. by Minwee · · Score: 1

      So it blocks the radiation, but it does not block the radiation?

      Usually, the student will be located _inside_ their clothing while objects like cell towers will be located _outside_. If this is not the case then maybe your school board has bigger problems than they had originally expected.

    3. Re:Okay, lets make this clear now. by Chris+Burke · · Score: 1

      That's a pretty neat trick, getting the radiation to go everywhere 'outside' but not 'inside'. How's that work when the student has their back to the cell tower?

      --

      The enemies of Democracy are
    4. Re:Okay, lets make this clear now. by __aajfby9338 · · Score: 1

      That's a pretty neat trick, getting the radiation to go everywhere 'outside' but not 'inside'.

      It was a neat trick when the trick was invented in 1836, but it's pretty mundane now.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage

    5. Re:Okay, lets make this clear now. by Chris+Burke · · Score: 1

      It was a neat trick when the trick was invented in 1836, but it's pretty mundane now.

      Oh lord, you're so clever. That has nothing to do with the situation, unless you think the students clothes are a Farady Cage. Somehow I rather doubt that they are completely enclosed in conductive mesh.

      Reality check: It's a pocket with a liner that blocks radiation in one direction. You can't stop radiation from going "inside" their close without also hindering its transmission to everything behind them.

      Or in other words: the neat trick is getting radiation to understand "inside" vs "outside" without a Faraday Cage.

      --

      The enemies of Democracy are
  12. Device To Block Idiotic Comments by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    from moronic U.S. residents: Sock in mouth.

    "Give me back my capitalism". "Give me back my 'Merica".

    Sorry dudes, your 'Merica fell off the map about 100 years ago.

    Yours In Communism,
    K. Trout

  13. You know the really sad part? by FlyingSquidStudios · · Score: 1

    They're probably still better at math and science than American kids.

  14. This is a ploy by the battery manufacturers by jeffmeden · · Score: 5, Funny

    A faraday cage in a pocket; to block cell phone signals from reaching the phone? The phones will just crank their output power to the max in a selfless attempt to communicate, and in turn the battery will probably be dead by lunchtime. It's almost as if cellphones need some sort of onboard switch that allows you to selectively decide when it's ON or OFF... No, that's probably too futuristic for most people to comprehend anyway.

    1. Re:This is a ploy by the battery manufacturers by FlickieStrife · · Score: 1

      It seems more like those lead aprons and things they put on you when getting an x-ray. Not a signal blocker, more of a bullet proof vest.

    2. Re:This is a ploy by the battery manufacturers by wfstanle · · Score: 1

      You don't see all the implications... School administrators would rejoice if the batteries went dead.

    3. Re:This is a ploy by the battery manufacturers by CastrTroy · · Score: 1

      I've experienced this first hand. In university, many of the lecture halls were underground and surrounded by rebar enforced concrete. No signal in there. A couple classes in there a day, and your cell phone wouldn't last until the end of the day.

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    4. Re:This is a ploy by the battery manufacturers by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 1

      It's almost as if cellphones need some sort of onboard switch that allows you to selectively decide when it's ON or OFF... No, that's probably too futuristic for most people to comprehend anyway.

      You would get years for that. Off switches will be illegal in the future, especially on your personal tracking devices.

      --
      Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
    5. Re:This is a ploy by the battery manufacturers by Captain+Spam · · Score: 1

      The phones will just crank their output power to the max in a selfless attempt to communicate [...]

      Hopeless attempt. Hopeless.

      Well, okay, technically, I suppose they WOULD be doing it selflessly, as, lacking sentience or life, most philosophers would agree that they also lack any real traditional sense of "self" (obviously, for the sake of this argument, disregarding philosophies and religions imparting a sort of "spirit" to all things, living or not), but I still don't think that's the word you're looking for. Not until they make self-aware phones which can then disregard themselves for the betterment of others, and assuming that increasing transmission power to the sacrifice of its own battery is counted among "betterment".

      Which I think Apple and Google are racing towards, actually.

      --
      Demanding constant attention will only lead to attention.
    6. Re:This is a ploy by the battery manufacturers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is that why the iPhone has no power switch and a sealed case so the battery can't be removed?

    7. Re:This is a ploy by the battery manufacturers by jeffmeden · · Score: 1

      as, lacking sentience or life, most philosophers would agree that they also lack any real traditional sense of "self"

      You are clearly using last year's model.

      But seriously, I anthropomorphize all my devices. We get along a lot better that way.

    8. Re:This is a ploy by the battery manufacturers by j-beda · · Score: 1

      "But seriously, I anthropomorphize all my devices. We get along a lot better that way."

      You really shouldn't anthropomorphize electronics - they HATE it.

  15. hmmmm by TheCarp · · Score: 1

    This could be an interesting angle... clothing designed to limit the "damage" from cell phone signals....

    So you line the pockets with a metalic mesh.... and as an added benefit... those milimeter wave scanners at the airport should be blinded too.

    I was wondering how to market metalic mesh lined pants :)

    -Steve

    --
    "I opened my eyes, and everything went dark again"
  16. misread by Tom · · Score: 1

    Looks like the purpose isn't so much to block cell phones, but to stop the electromagnetic radiation.

    While most studies show it to be harmless, some studies say that kids might be more susceptible to any damages it might cause.

    --
    Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
  17. Clothes are bad, m'kay. by realsilly · · Score: 1

    Look, why don't we just let people be to what they want to be exposed to. Why would we want clothes to emit something that counteracts something else. Keep clothes pure.

    Honestly, why must we keep inventing ways of counteracting what we know exists rather than just fix what exists first?

    I'm not trying to troll here, but it seems that we are all for self experimentation.

    For example, We have knows cigarettes are a big cause for cancer since the mid 70's or 80's yet we (humans) keep smoking that crap.

    We've known for well over a decade that cell phones emit some harmful radiation. We keep buying them, and we haven't demanded that the industry fix itself.

    We keep letting ourselves get duped into thinking all is ok. We are as much to blame for what we consume as those that sell us those consumer products.

    --
    Life takes interesting turns, but the most interest is when you're off the beaten path.
    1. Re:Clothes are bad, m'kay. by fredjh · · Score: 1

      Look, why don't we just let people be to what they want to be exposed to.

      Being generally libertarian in nature, I'd agree with this except that we're talking about school kids as young as elementary school age. So, for example, your cigarette example is great... I think people should be allowed to smoke if they want, but the smoking age is 18 in most states.

      Kids are being brought up in a world where which cellphone they have and their availability to send and receive messages determines their self worth. It's sad, but it's how it is.

      Now, these clothes are pretty stupid. The authors of the article are pretty stupid, too. But then, that's just IMHO.

      --
      Stupid, sexy Flanders.
    2. Re:Clothes are bad, m'kay. by natehoy · · Score: 1

      First, the clothes don't appear to be "emitting" anything. I don't speak Russian, so I can't get the technical details, but it appears that they are using some form of micromesh that shields the user from some of the radiation from a cell phone. The clothing itself does not emit any radiation, it's a passive block.

      As to fixing the radiation, I can't say as I disagree, though I've heard many different stories on the results of studies, but better safe than sorry, I suppose. Does lead to a slight problem. I'd admittedly be hard-pressed to think of another thing other than radio waves to, well, carry radio signals. And I have yet to see an alternative to radio for wireless communication. I mean, if we all suddenly converted to smoke signals we'd start dying off of Black Lung or something.

      Having said all that, I don't honestly see why a child should need a powered-on cell phone in a classroom setting. If the child needs a cell for some reason, or their parents want them to carry one, fine. But the best way to protect someone from the radiation the phones emit is to turn the damned things off until they are needed. If the parents need to reach the children, the appropriate way is to (a) leave a voicemail ot text and the kid can check during lunch or break, or if it's urgent (b) contact the school who will send someone to the classroom to give the message to the kid.

      --
      "This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
    3. Re:Clothes are bad, m'kay. by hardburn · · Score: 1

      Because there are no known mechanisms for non-ionizing radiation to cause harm (except thermal damage; cell phones aren't nearly powerful enough for that), the burden of proof is on those claiming that cell phones cause harm. These things have, in fact, been extensively studied, and the majority of studies backup what we expect from a general understanding of the electromagnetic spectrum: cell phone signals don't cause harm. The few studies showing problems can be simply dismissed as outliers.

      The best way to move forward is to toss the issue.

      --
      Not a typewriter
    4. Re:Clothes are bad, m'kay. by realsilly · · Score: 1

      True the Adults versus child differnces make complete sense in your response, but parents need to then make the decisions for their children. If they are concerned whether the science is true, ultimately it comes down to parents taking control of what their children are exposed to. And thus back to my initial arguement, if we let ourselves use stuff that may or may not be bad for us, we are in that essence self-experimenting.

      Maybe my arguement would have been better addressed to the parents of this world, take control of what your children do, and if you allow them the unlimited freedoms, don't blame anyone else for these actions if the results are less than favorable. And if your children are sneaky and devious, make them responsible for their actions.

      I'm not against self experimentation, really, it's that type of attitude that has allowed scientist to test and further discover stuff.

      Guess this is really something for a good debate over a cup of coffee. Hee

      --
      Life takes interesting turns, but the most interest is when you're off the beaten path.
  18. Overview site by Eukariote · · Score: 1

    Powerwatch is a good overview site dealing with health issues surrounding microwave and lower frequency electro-magnetic radiation. It may surprise many of you, but there have been clear-cut studies showing DNA damage on acount of EM fields, even at low frequencies: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1241963

    1. Re:Overview site by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      there have been clear-cut studies showing DNA damage on acount of EM fields, even at low frequencies: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1241963

      Except that the study that you link to is not about low frequency EM radiation, i.e. it has nothing to do with cell phones.

      Even if the study were about low frequency EM radiation, which it is not, it would still be irrelevant, because it is not about cell phone frequency EM radiation. (For example, there is a helluvalot of difference between how humans are affected by visible light and by x-rays.)

      Even if the study were about cell phone frequency EM radiation, which it is not, it is not about the sort of low level, point source of cell phone frequency EM radiation that cell phones are.

      If the study were all of the above, then the question would arise whether its results could be generalized from rats to humans. The answer to which is maybe.

    2. Re:Overview site by Eukariote · · Score: 1

      Except that the study that you link to is not about low frequency EM radiation, i.e. it has nothing to do with cell phones.

      You don't understand. The main argument against cell-phone-induced damage is that the microwave photon energy (which is proportional to the frequency) is insufficient to break chemical bonds. However, that argument goes out the window if even much lower frequency EM radiation is found to still be able cause DNA breakage.

    3. Re:Overview site by Incadenza · · Score: 1

      Right! Just yesterday I suffered from cellular damage because of radiation! Those damned gas ovens radiate enormous amounts of infrared. It's about time somebody acts and designs some mitts that block infrared, that stuff is just everywhere. And when they are on to that, could they please do something about DHMO usage too? My son spilled the stuff all over himself yesterday, and who knows what happens next?

    4. Re:Overview site by trampel · · Score: 1

      The linked article talks about magnetic (not EM) fields at 60 Hz. Looks like it would relate more to the power grid than to cell phones, if at all.

    5. Re:Overview site by Cedric+Tsui · · Score: 1

      Wow! That's an awesome PubMed article.

      I always just assumed that non-ionizing meant no DNA damage. I never considered a catalyst system.

    6. Re:Overview site by Eukariote · · Score: 2, Interesting

      The linked article talks about magnetic (not EM) fields at 60 Hz. Looks like it would relate more to the power grid than to cell phones, if at all.

      There is a relation. What the experiments at 60 Hz show is that EM fields with very low photon energies (the photon energy is proportional to the frequency) can still cause biochemically appreciable effects such as DNA breakage.

      The main reason that microwave-frequency EM radiation (which cell phones emit) has been claimed to be safe, at least in the low-power non-heating range, is that microwave photon energy is still way too low to break chemical bonds. This claim has been refuted by the 60 Hz results since they show that DNA breakage is definitely possible in the low-photon-energy regime, presumably by an indirect mechanism.

    7. Re:Overview site by cloudmaster · · Score: 1

      Is it really that hard to directly test the microwaves they're interested in, rather than just testing with whatever equipment they had laying around?

    8. Re:Overview site by Eukariote · · Score: 1

      Is it really that hard to directly test the microwaves they're interested in

      What makes you assume that their experiment was motivated by an interest in microwaves? Studying the physiological effects of 60 Hz fields is mighty interesting, as that is the power-line frequency.

  19. Re:This could be marginally useful to prevent ring by Duradin · · Score: 1

    We could do things like enforcing the rules but most teachers or schools can't afford the lawyers to fend off the parents who just know that Johnny is a special little angel who'd never do anything wrong and that he's above average so he obviously shouldn't get any grade less than an A+.

  20. I see a new X-man being born by FlickieStrife · · Score: 1

    DNA damage? Isn't it time kids evolve anyways? How else is the human race gonna move forward?

    1. Re:I see a new X-man being born by Cro+Magnon · · Score: 1

      Well, it would be kewl if my (hypothetical) kid could shoot solar-powered blasts out his butt (like Cyclops, but from the other end). But with my luck, s/he'd just end up with 7 fingers on each hand.

      --
      Slow down, cowboy! It has been 4 hours since you last posted. You must wait another few hours.
    2. Re:I see a new X-man being born by SilverEyes · · Score: 1

      I wish I didn't spent my mod points already so I could mod GP up.

      And wait, Cyclops is solar-powered?

      Many people here are condemning cell phone use, but how many people here sit in front of CRTs, multiple cell phones, pagers, Blackberries, etc? I thought the main concern for damage was that they can get warm and are kept in pockets near the testes (for men), which can interfere with sperm production. If I was so concerned about microwave/radio radiation I'd wear a tinfoil hat and live in a metal box in a basement somewhere. Oh wait, this is Slashdot...

      --
      Interesting.
  21. Hmm by UbuntuniX · · Score: 0

    Wait, protect?

  22. Cellphones are officially safe though by mtthwbrnd · · Score: 2, Insightful

    But cellphones are perfectly safe according to official doctrine. What is the problem here? Why do we need protecting from something that is officially safe. If they are unsafe then they should be banned.

    1. Re:Cellphones are officially safe though by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Tylanol is safe too, until you fuck up your liver and die.

      http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203577304574272292331942618.html
      http://www.medicinenet.com/tylenol_liver_damage/article.htm
      http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/news/20051201/tylenol-overdoses-liver-failure

      etc. etc. etc. etc.

    2. Re:Cellphones are officially safe though by wfstanle · · Score: 1

      The full story might still be written on this one. According to CORPORATE studies (or studies funded by corporations) they are safe. Government studies are almost as questionable because the corporations and the government are so closely aligned. It's only when something catastrophic happens that the full truth comes out. Don't get me wrong, I am not one of the tinfoil hat crowd but one doesn't know the long term results until some time has past.

  23. Two birds, one stone by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just ban mobile phones from school all together. That way, the kids would be protected from any possibly radiation risk, and there would also be one fewer distraction from their education.

  24. Laugh if you want till you listen to Dr. Carlo... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Dr. Carlo did the original studies on cell phone radiation for the cell phone industry.
    They did not like what he found and tried to intimidate him and claim he was a nut job.
    The information carrying freqs we are exposing our selves to are new to the human body and the effects are not good.
    Listen and then laugh about the tin foil crowd.
    Keep putting that microwave radiation source right next to your sensitive brain and see what happens...

    http://www.mast-victims.org/resources/audio/dr-george-carlo.mp3
    http://www.mast-victims.org/resources/audio/dr-george-carlo-dynamic-health-2008-04-23.mp3
    http://tinyurl.com/ttotl
    http://www.mast-victims.org/index.php?content=resources

  25. Is it : by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    should read "Is it I". Evidently, your knowledge of grammar is WORSE than school officials.

  26. A special price by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Now someone has to create an oven mitt that can protect you from the harmful radiation given off by your microwave oven."

    I've got an oven mitt I'll sell you for $19.95 that is guaranteed to protect you from a 100% of the radiation while the microwave door is open. ... It'll also protect against Snipe.

  27. Its not clear that cell phones are safe. by miffo.swe · · Score: 1

    The long time effects of cellphones hasnt been properly researched yet. The problem is nobody knows if its dangerous yet. In ten-twenty years time we will know for sure and some parents may want to be on the safe side.

    --
    HTTP/1.1 400
    1. Re:Its not clear that cell phones are safe. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Have I got some tinfoil hats to sell to you... Oh wait, they're already doing just that. Damnit, too late again.

    2. Re:Its not clear that cell phones are safe. by Incadenza · · Score: 1

      The long time effects of tinfoil hats hasnt been properly researched yet. The problem is nobody knows if its dangerous yet. In ten-twenty years time we will know for sure and some slashdotters may want to be on the safe side.

  28. Re:This could be marginally useful to prevent ring by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 1

    Unless it's zero tolerance for aspirin or metal spoons.

    --
    Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
  29. WOW by OrangeMonkey11 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    This is just another pointless protect our Children BS, why not just suggest every parents should bubble wrap their children before they leave the house

    1. Re:WOW by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      asphyxiation by bubble wrap would be a good reason not to suggest that

  30. Hey, now don't knock Gamma Rays ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... cause you wouldn't like me when I get angry ...

  31. Invent a new problem then make a profit by chicago_scott · · Score: 1

    This is like giving kids paper that can't be written on because kids would use the paper to pass notes to each other.

    Note passing, doodling, talking, sleeping, etc. are all just a much of a distraction as cell phones, but schools don't go out and buy expensive gadgets to stop these distractions... instead the teacher uses disciplinary action. Why can't the same be done for cell phones?

    One answer is that disciplinary action doesn't generate a profit for the company making this piece of junk.

    1. Re:Invent a new problem then make a profit by SilverEyes · · Score: 1

      Teachers are fairly limited in what they allowed to do, often fearing reprisals from helicopter parents who think their kids are perfect.

      --
      Interesting.
    2. Re:Invent a new problem then make a profit by chicago_scott · · Score: 1

      Now you're talking about the real problem that needs to be dealt with: The ability for teachers to enforce rules.

      Blocking a cell phone will do nothing to address that problem. It may alleviate one distraction (until the students figure out how to defeat the technology... let's not even get started talking about a schools limited funds being spent on a technology war with students, the school will lose and end up broke at the same time), but there are fifty other distractions that still must be dealt with. And the only way to deal with most of those other fifty distractions is through disciplinary action, which just so happens would help control the cell phone problem as well.

    3. Re:Invent a new problem then make a profit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Except that doodling often increases retention...

  32. I don't know why that sounds so odd to you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I see nothing odd in that. I got my first Nokia cellphone when I was on 5th grade, I think. I'm not sure how long elementary school takes in USA but here in Finland it is 9 years and you finish it when you are 15 or 16 years old (assuming you don't have to redo any year or anything like that). Most Finns have already also given up land lines as everyone in the family has cellphone. (Official cell phone penetration rate is apparently at 128% as there are more phones than people. For comparison, the rate for USA is 86% linky)

    So a lot of kids at elementary school have cellphones. At that point question is "Should they be allowed in school or not" and thus "Is there any benefit from that?". The answer is, yes there is. At least I remember numerous times that I didn't come home directly from school but instead went to a friend for a while. It was good for me to have my phone with me and I think that my mother was happy knowing that she could contact me if necessary. Of course I used the phone myself, too. Texted friends if they have gotten off the school yet, etc. etc... Once called an ambulance after school when I saw an accident. So the next question is "Is there any harm from allowing them in schools" and I don't believe there is. There was a rule "Don't let it ring during a lesson or a teacher will take it and your parents will have to come and ask it back.". Some teachers were very strict about that, others were not. But practically everyone had a phone and I don't think I heard a phone ring during a lesson more than ten times or so in total. It was never a problem of any sort, not for teachers and not for students.

    A lot of posters have implied that not only would cell phones be allowed in schools but it would be a very odd idea to allow them. Is there any logical reasoning behind this?

    1. Re:I don't know why that sounds so odd to you by kannibal_klown · · Score: 1

      I see nothing odd in that. I got my first Nokia cellphone when I was on 5th grade, I think. I'm not sure how long elementary school takes in USA but here in Finland it is 9 years and you finish it when you are 15 or 16 years old (assuming you don't have to redo any year or anything like that)

      To answer your question about the USA. The numbers should should be about right (perhaps off by 1 year). At least where I live there's a cut-off like "You must turn X yrs old between September and June" (or something to that effect).

      Kindergarten = 5 yrs old
      1st Grade = 6 yrs old
      High School (9th-12th grade) = 15 - 18 yrs old

      Some states (if not all) have Middle School (7th and 8th grade) where they try to ease you into a semi High School experience. Mainly, going from 1 teacher with a desk to multiple teachers/classrooms and the use of lockers.

      All of that being said, Cellphones weren't that big yet while I was in High School. Sure students had them but I don't think it reached critical mass by us until my senior year or after I went to college.

      That being said, back then teachers would confiscate cellphones and pagers if they even saw them (let alone heard them). They wanted all communication to/from parents to go through either the Principal's office, Nurse's office, or a payphone.

      I think I got my first one towards the middle or end of High School, mostly because I had to work late and would either need a ride back from someone or if there was an emergency.

    2. Re:I don't know why that sounds so odd to you by Chris+Burke · · Score: 2, Insightful

      So a lot of kids at elementary school have cellphones. At that point question is "Should they be allowed in school or not" and thus "Is there any benefit from that?". The answer is, yes there is.

      Should they be allowed in schools is one question, should they be allowed in class is another. The answer to the first one is yes, because it's obviously beneficial for parents and children to be able to communicate. The answer to the latter is no, because in general they serve no educational purpose, and a child who needs to call their parent can either wait until after class or ask the teacher's permission.

      I think a lot of people automatically think "in class" when they hear "in school".

      It was never a problem of any sort, not for teachers and not for students.

      Sadly it's quite a problem over here, largely because of the ongoing war between students and their parents trying to strip all authority from school staff, and school staff trying to acquire absolute power in blanket fashion so they can claim to be fair and always thinking of the children.

      E.g. if a student has a phone in class, and won't stop using it and disrupting class, and won't voluntarily hand it over to the teacher, the teacher has very few options as to what to do that won't get them in deep shit with the parents. Ergo, they try to get a universal ban on having phones in school, or blocking the phones so they're useless, and thus never have to confront an individual student over it.

      It's kinda messed up.

      --

      The enemies of Democracy are
    3. Re:I don't know why that sounds so odd to you by crossmr · · Score: 1

      Should they be allowed in schools is one question, should they be allowed in class is another. The answer to the first one is yes, because it's obviously beneficial for parents and children to be able to communicate. The answer to the latter is no, because in general they serve no educational purpose, and a child who needs to call their parent can either wait until after class or ask the teacher's permission.

      Or the gunman. They could also ask the earth quake to shake the debris off their locker so they could pull the cellphone out.

      You're right though. There isn't a conceivable situation where a student might want access to their phone and not be able to just grab it out of their locker.

    4. Re:I don't know why that sounds so odd to you by Chris+Burke · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I'm not going to allow crazed gunmen to determine school policy in the classroom. That's a really, really weak reason to allow a class-disrupting device into the class. In the same situation, couldn't the teacher pull out their cell phone and make the same call? Oh but right, I'm sure in this scenario the teacher was gunned down already, her cell phone fell and broke, the gunmen cut the land-line to the school so the traditional phone on her desk doesn't work, yet all the other students in the room are fine. If only they had a phone!

      It's not about "conceivable". It's about rational and reasonable.

      Well, okay, at actual schools "rational" and "reasonable" are very rarely invited to policy meetings. That doesn't make your argument any better.

      --

      The enemies of Democracy are
    5. Re:I don't know why that sounds so odd to you by crossmr · · Score: 1

      yes if you ignore half the argument, its easy to dismiss it. The point was there are plenty of emergency situations in which a teacher might not be able to use their cellphone. So the students having their phones with them (but turned off) does no harm.

  33. Bundle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wait, THERES MORE. If you buy the cellphone blocking uniforms we will through in:

    1 free ionic bracelet with every purchase.
    2 harmony chips
    1 Philip Stein Teslar Watch "a watch powered by snake oil,"
    3 MPion MP3 Players

    Call within the next 20 minutes and receive a pair of Dowsing Rods at no extra cost.

    *(http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2007/11/10-awesome-gadg/)

    1. Re:Bundle by SilverEyes · · Score: 1

      If I don't get a http://www.alexchiu.com/ I don't want it.

      --
      Interesting.
  34. Don't forget... by GameMaster · · Score: 1

    Oh, and don't forget that, if you're one of those sticklers that doesn't want to immigrate, you should invest in one of those lead codpieces. You wouldn't want to devolve into a "special" now would you...

    --

    Rules of Conduct:
    #1 - The DM is always right.
    #2 - If the DM is wrong, see rule #1
  35. Paranoia by Nerdposeur · · Score: 1

    For those dismissing this as paranoia - which it may be, I don't know - it may help to understand that Belarus has suffered considerably from the Chernobyl fallout.

    If I were them, I'd be paranoid, too.

  36. Re:This could be marginally useful to prevent ring by jhol13 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    if it blocks the radiation effectively enough to prevent reception sufficiently

    I would not wear even if it did do that.

    Reason: when phone is about to lose (or loses) contact with BTS the phone will increase TX power in order to avoid that. This can easily make situation (radiation dose) even worse.

  37. RFID blocker? by Roger+W+Moore · · Score: 1

    One immediate use that springs to mind is shoplifting - at least assuming that it blocks RFID tags. Although hopefully those kids smart enough to figure that out would also be smart enough not to shop lift. Of course a more positive use for the rest of us would be a passport pocket to block remote reading of your biometric data.

    1. Re:RFID blocker? by __aajfby9338 · · Score: 1

      Although hopefully those kids smart enough to figure that out would also be smart enough not to shop lift.

      That presumes a correlation between intelligence and honesty.

    2. Re:RFID blocker? by mysidia · · Score: 1

      You think it requires intelligence to figure this out?

      A curious student just has to one day search for articles about their uniform, and stumble upon this slashdot article.

    3. Re:RFID blocker? by RockDoctor · · Score: 1

      One immediate use that springs to mind is shoplifting - at least assuming that it blocks RFID tags. Although hopefully those kids smart enough to figure that out would also be smart enough not to shop lift.

      "smart enough not to" not get caught "shop lift"-ing

      Fixed that for you.

      --
      Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"
    4. Re:RFID blocker? by Roger+W+Moore · · Score: 1

      That presumes a correlation between intelligence and honesty.

      No it assumes a correlation between understanding risk vs. reward and intelligence. Risking your future by getting a criminal conviction does not sound like a good idea if the reward is a DVD.

  38. No increased cancer in 50's radar techs by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

    Who were often exposed to massive EMFs.

    There were many who were stationed in Greenland who would stand in front of the antenna to get warm.

    No increased cancer rate!

    --
    John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    1. Re:No increased cancer in 50's radar techs by Shadyman · · Score: 1

      No increased birth rate, either. 5 Megawatts to the groin does NOT a happy camper make.

  39. WTF? by flipper9 · · Score: 1

    With all of the money wasted on protecting kids from JUNK SCIENCE...we could be improving their health, providing meals to kids who aren't getting proper nutrition, immunization....geeze...our priorities are all screwed up.

  40. onboard switch by nurb432 · · Score: 1

    It's almost as if cellphones need some sort of onboard switch that allows you to selectively decide when it's ON or OFF... No, that's probably too futuristic for most people to comprehend anyway.

    Why would you want to turn your phone off and render its tracking signal unreadable by your friendly government? Are you a terrorist or something?

    --
    ---- Booth was a patriot ----
  41. Yes, they've also requested... by VampireByte · · Score: 1

    Schools are putting out bids for cat 5e cable knit sweaters and kneesocks

    --

    Run and catch, run and catch, the lamb is caught in the blackberry patch.

  42. Re:This could be marginally useful to prevent ring by Kral_Blbec · · Score: 1

    Not just school systems. What ever happened to life without parole actually being life without parole? Bleeding heart progressives have made it politically incorrect to punish criminals, going so far as to many times punish the victims for defending themselves.

    In the past few months I've seen several articles about pizza delivery men getting attacked, defending themselves with a legally concealed weapon, then facing either criminal charges or loss of employment for doing so. Then there was the bank teller who got fired for apprehending a bank robber.

    Ya I know. Offtopic. /rantover

  43. This doesn't work well by roguegramma · · Score: 1

    This IMHO doesn't work well because the next thing the phone does when it finds it impossible to transmit is to ramp up its transmission power to the set maximum => hot pockets

    --
    Hey don't blame me, IANAB
  44. Technological Solutions.. by Renraku · · Score: 1

    Technological solutions shouldn't be used to solve social problems.

    Fear of cell phone radiation isn't a technological problem. It's a social one. Namely, unfamiliarity with basic science, and being quick to blame Big Corporations for every little sniffle and sneeze.

    Oh, and the phone-use-during-class thing too, have the teacher confiscate the phones.

    --
    Job? I don't have time to get a job! Who will sit around and bitch about being broke and unemployed then?
  45. Umm, yes, that's the whole point of oven mitts. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Oven mitts *do protect* you from the harmful INFRARED radiation given off by your oven.

    OK, perhaps not for microwave oven, but seriously, who wares mitts for microwave oven?

    (And, yes yes, oven mitts also protect you from thermal conduction when you touch the hot pan inside the oven, so it's only "half the whole point," but that doesn't make a great title.)

  46. Oven Mitt by Convector · · Score: 1

    Got your hand in the microwave oven while it's running, do you?

  47. How do you... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...text someone when your cell phone is in your pocket?

  48. Mobiles should be totally banned in schools by NSN+A392-99-964-5927 · · Score: 1

    Really, all mobiles should be banned in schools and the above technology is not a solution to the problem. My friend a recently retired Deputy Head Master of 38 years in teaching, has seen the mobile phone arrive over the years and how it has affected his pupils. He told me, if it were not for mobile phones, there would be less crime in schools, less bullying, plus if Pupils came to school without mobile phones, they would be more attentive to the extent we could virtually scrap the amount of "Home Work" issued. He also blamed parents for being "too soft" and said these children, would have far more social time, better exam results, virtually no home work, if they came to school without them. I must say, I have to concur.

    --
    All cows eat grass!
  49. Scientific garbage here by scholl_r · · Score: 1

    "Protect kids from EMF ..." - this is more unscientific panic - a load of crap, in other words. There are only three mechanisms for damage to cells: induced electrical currents in the body, tissue heating and ionization. The first can occur only below about 3 kHz. Tissue heating happens when the tissue absorbs enough energy in the 30 MHz to 300 GHz range - to raise the cellular temperature enough to cause damage requires substantial power. Ionizing radiation is from wavelengths in the ultraviolet and below (X-rays and gamma rays). All this has been studied at length and tens of thousands of papers written over the past thirty years. The clear conclusion is that cell phones simply do not have the power to cause any kind of damage to cells in the vicinity of their antenna. See www.emfandhealth.com for complete coverage of the subject.