Kids these days! A recent NY Times article cites how clever teens are using a steath ring tone to evade detection of incoming calls by strict disciplinarians such as their parents and teachers who restrict mobile phone use in classrooms (go figure!) and at home. The ringtone utilizes a technology called Mosquito which projects a 17 kilohertz buzzer to disperse loitering youth.
The buzzer capitalizes on presbycusis, or aging ear. Most adults older than 40 or 50 can’t hear the super high frequency (though the company claims it is inaudible by those over 20). Listen to the tone here. Personally, I’m going to use it to test my own hearing and as a measure of my youthfulness. So far, I seem to be younger than my years.
No word on how the stealth ring tone helps you evade detection when you actually answer your mobile. Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak should do it though.
Posted by Ben Garfinkel
Tags: Technology
Nick (June 14th, 2006)
Crap. Seems the company is right – I’m 25 over here and can’t hear it at all. Sure bugged my 22 year old coworker though…
Paavani (June 15th, 2006)
Whatever! It sounds great among kids.
Wait, Let me do this hearing test. :)
jenn.suz.hoy (June 20th, 2006)
A local radio station (NC, USA) played the ringtone to see how many callers could actually hear it. There were calls from listeners in the age range of anywhere from 16 – 35 that could hear the tone – the older you are, the quieter it sounded. Being of the low-20′s myself, I heard it and let me just say:
IT’S CALLED A MOSQUITO FOR A REASON
Most annoying sound ever.