Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
h a l f b a k e r y
Left for Bread

idea: add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, random

meta: news, help, about, links, report a problem

account: browse anonymously, or get an account and write.

user:
pass:
register,


     

Mobile-phone "courtesy" signal/features

Standard signal to disable audible ringer while other features remain active
  (+6, -1)
(+6, -1)
  [vote for,
against]

Some places in various countries are installing mobile-phone jammers. Although ringing cell phones can certainly be a nuisance, the jammers are an over-reaching "solution" to the problem and may cause serious problems which could dwarf the minor ones they stifle.

I would suggest that a better approach would be to standardize a cell-phone "courtesy" signal which, unless overridden, would cause suitably-equipped cell phones to disable the audible ringer while keeping other features (vibrate, messaging, etc.) active.

Additionally, I would like cell phones to provide a button which would answer the call with a message that the holder of the phone would be taking the call shortly. This would allow someone who was e.g. in a movie theater when the baby-sitter called to discretely leave the auditorium before having to take the call [anyone who thought they might have to take a call would, of course, be asked to seat themselves along the aisles near the back of the theater].

These features could thus avoid much of the 'social annoyance' associated with cell-phones without reducing their usefulness for emergencies, family and otherwise.

supercat, Oct 17 2004


Please log in.
If you're not logged in, you can see what this page looks like, but you will not be able to add anything.



Annotation:







       I was just searching pre-post for exactly what you've got in para. 2. Thank you, and bun.
lurch, Mar 23 2008
  

       Yesterday on the freeway I found myself fantsizing about a mobile cellphone jammer, which would hopefully increase safety in the area around me.   

       Then I realized it would probably only increase the volume of dropped calls and people redialing in my vicinity.
normzone, Mar 23 2008
  


 

back: main index

business  computer  culture  fashion  food  halfbakery  home  other  product  public  science  sport  vehicle