On a computer a color which is normally designated by R, G and B values can also be represented by a long integer equal to R+G*256+B*256^2.

I propose that we convert our 7-digit phone numbers to colors.

My home phone number ends up being a pleasant shade of muted teal. My work number, on the other hand, is a ghastly yellow with a greenish tinge. Clearly, the color of a phone number explains a lot.

If you’d like to calculate your own phone color, do this:

Divide your phone number by 65536.
Subtract the integer part of that number.
Multiply by 256.
Subtract the integer part of that number.
Multiply by 256

The first integer you subtracted is B. The second integer you subtracted is G. The number you end up with is R.
-- AO, Feb 17 2004

After calculating the RGB values of your phone color, go here to see it. http://www.drpeterjones.com/colorcalc/
[AO, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004]

My phone colors http://www.geocitie...sign/PhoneColor.htm
(Slightly altered, so don’t try to call me.) [AO, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004]

Hello, this is the Universe speaking+ http://www.npr.org/...aas/020110.aas.html
[theircompetitor, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004]

Nice. My home number is a lovely shade of purple, but only if I take off the area code. Can this work for longer numbers? Our phone numbers in the UK are 01234 567890 or 0112 3456789. Mobiles are 01111 234567.
-- hazel, Feb 18 2004


This would make men only able to dial 16 different phones.
-- GenYus, Feb 18 2004


Ah, yes, classic telephone black. There used to be a nice lady at that number, but now I can only get her answering machine.
-- AO, Feb 18 2004


I think you're just trying to get people's phone numbers. <holds color behind back>
-- k_sra, Feb 18 2004


I seem to have a rather interesting shade of light blue. One wonders if it's superintelligent.
-- dagonet, Feb 18 2004


[dagonet], I think my old buddy Zaphod knows your number.
-- zigness, Feb 18 2004


You may be on to something, [k]. If you describe your color, do so vaguely, unless you want mathematically inclined strangers calling you at home.
-- AO, Feb 18 2004


What? I can't believe mine's just a bland black! Not fair! Oddly enough, that's usually the background color of my websites, but, black! I mean, come on! I'm more interesting than that! At least, that's what the shrink tells me...
-- ghillie, Feb 18 2004


Ah, but the area code reveals an olive drab. I like, I like. [+]
-- ghillie, Feb 18 2004


I calculated my phone number and came up with that wierd reflective color they have on cars now where the car might be a plum color but it reflects as green on the areas where the sun or other bright lights hit it.
-- Jscotty, Sep 02 2005



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