Cellphones are frequently left behind on people's desks for charging purposes, and so throughout the day, we are subject to continuous, obnoxious ringtones of obviously critically important callers to Chief Never-Near-His-Phone and his sidekick, Disco Ringtone Fanboy. Isn't it enough torment that we sequestor ourselves into solitary isolation chambers we call cubicles without the chinese water torture of repeated 5 second chorus clippings of 'How You Remind Me?'

This is a worn prox tag that disables the ringer whenever the phone senses its wearer is out of earshot. Probably drains the battery by pinging the tag, but oh well.
-- RayfordSteele, Jun 25 2012

Bluetooth Bracelet http://www.ebay.co....hash=item3f191db4a8
One amongst many. eBay search term, "bluetoooth bracelet". [8th of 7, Jun 25 2012]

It would only have to ping when it's about to ring, so it wouldn't do that much damage to the battery.
-- MechE, Jun 25 2012


Semi-baked. You can get a Bluetooth bracelet that vibrates when the phone rings; but you have to be in range.

Unit cost about USD$30.

Use one of these, and put the phone on "vibrate". No noise to disturb cow-orkers.

<link>
-- 8th of 7, Jun 25 2012


Just subject the offensive phones to the hammer, or cup of coffee treatment. The owners will surely learn to take more care.
-- Custardguts, Jun 26 2012


Never mind the phone ringing. What's really obnoxious is when people set an /alarm/ on their phones, and then aren't there to acknowledge/cancel it. I had one coworker who had an alarm set on his phone for every day at 2:00, and left his phone on his desk all the time. Somehow, though, once or twice a week he was away from his desk between 1:30 and 2:30. It would still be ringing when he got back.
-- ytk, Jun 26 2012


Why would you leave your mobile unattended? Are these people unaware of the purpose of possessing a mobile 'phone?
-- UnaBubba, Jun 26 2012


Simple behavioural modification needed. The reason that co-worker did not take steps to avoid irritating you and everyone else is simply that there was no negative feedback. Many people simply don’t see irritating other people, being told off, or having a “difficult conversation” as a bad thing worth being avoided. I’ve worked in so-called open plan office environments before, and there is no getting around the “community” requirements. So introduce another influence. First offence – stop the alarm and talk with the owner. 2nd offence – remove the battery. 3rd offence – dampen the offending noise in a œ litre or so of salty water. 4th offence is best treated with summary capital punishment – if you work in a high-rise, defenestration can be conveniently arranged.
-- Custardguts, Jun 26 2012


I'd simply "borrow" the offending 'phone.

"Oh, that? I found it. It was squawking to be picked up and I couldn't find its mother anywhere, so I decided to keep it."
-- UnaBubba, Jun 26 2012


"It's been on hold with a $9.95/min sex line in Peru for about 3 hours now"
-- Custardguts, Jun 26 2012


Nice, [Custard].
-- UnaBubba, Jun 26 2012


"Strange, they don't bounce even half as well as the old Motorola MicroTACs used to ..."

or better ...

"Hello ? Hello ? No, I'm not Jim ... no, he can't answer you right now, what with the cops handcuffing him and all ... hang on, I'll ask if they'll let me hold the phone up to his AWWK Sorry, he's just bitten one of them again, looks like they're going to have to strap him to the stretcher ... Hello ? HELLO ? Funny, they hung up ..."
-- 8th of 7, Jun 26 2012



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