Cell Phone Booths

Time was when every public place had a row of telephone booths, with a seat and folding doors, guaranteeing that all those newspaper reporters you see in those old films rushing to telephone their bosses could hear what the person on the other end of the phone was saying. Now, of course, the booths have all been replaced with little stands or removed altogether, and everyone carries a cell phone anyway.

Yet the need remains, in libraries, theaters, train stations, restaurants and other public places, for a place to hold a telephone conversation without the general noise level drowning out the other party, and without one's own yakking adding to the general noise level.

So, I suggest a row of little open booths, right about the size of modern office cubes (3' x 3', say), fitted with noise dampening tiles (*not* the kind you get in Rhode Island), and a little stub of a seat (enough to rest your weary rear, but not enough to encourage vagrants), and maybe a shelf to hold you things while you talk.