Trans-cranial Magnetic Stimulation (TCMS) has been shown to be an effective means to provide non-invasive stimulation of brain centers. [link]

I propose that its use be expanded to alleviate those annoying delays one experiences while using a cell (or other) phone to locations across the planet.

e.g. Caller A asks a question which propagates to Caller B in T(1) milliseconds. Caller B replies, after some thought T(t), and speaks; again the propagation time T(2) delays A's reception of B's reply. In local calls, T(1&2) are fairly small, but for transcontinental calls, can become on the order of seconds.

This can get very annoying, with slight pauses offering partial opportunity to initiate a reply, often resulting in simultaneous speech collisions.

The TCMS cellphone filter obviates this difficulty by simply stimulating a part of the brain responsible for conscious perception of passing time, and knocks it out for a suitable time, thus preventing the perception of the delay.

Further background on the "User Illusion" noting that our fore-brain "makes up" and rationalizes our perception of order of internal and external events. [link2]
-- csea, Apr 14 2012

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation http://en.wikipedia...agnetic_stimulation
Non-invasive neural stimulation [csea, Apr 14 2012, last modified Feb 13 2013]

The User Illusion http://en.wikipedia.../wiki/User_illusion
Specfically Tor Nørretranders' book [csea, Apr 14 2012]

Mu-metal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mu-metal
Excellent magnetic shielding material [csea, Apr 15 2012]

Hang on a second.

So, I say "What's the weather like there?"

The person on the other end, after a one second delay, starts to say "It's still raining."

Meanwhile, I, not hearing his immediate reply, continue to talk, saying "Is it still raining."

Now, to which party, and at what time, is the TCMS applied?
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Apr 14 2012


Cellphones are getting inconveniently small -- what's needed is some new must-have function which requires a larger form factor. This is it! [+]

We'll be carrying our 'phones 'round in wheelbarrows, now. Even better, we'll have to plug them into wall outlets to use them (or buy the gasoline-powered generator accessory, sold separately).
-- mouseposture, Apr 14 2012


//Now, to which party, and at what time, is the TCMS applied?//

Ideally, to both parties. TCMS is applied to Caller A after the unit detects that a sentence has been uttered, for a length of time that cancels out propagation time T(1+2). Meanwhile, Caller B has responded after T1 plus whatever time he/she takes to formulate a reply. Caller B's TCMS operates similarly, preventing B from thinking that it's taking too long for a reply.

Re:size, I don't think that's a problem. The magnetic fields required are fairly short in duration, and shouldn't require exceptional energy. Appropriate coils could be placed in a lightweight "hands free" headset.

The pinpoint accuracy of the TCMS field and its effect are a bit more dubious, but after all, this is the HB!
-- csea, Apr 15 2012


//We reversed that trend a long time ago.// (Recycled Macbook joke) Yes, according to Moore's law, in a few years we'll have smart-phones the size of tennis courts.
-- spidermother, Apr 15 2012


//effect the electromag field might have on the phone itself//

Nothing a bit of mu-metal couldn't fix. [link]
-- csea, Apr 15 2012


[csea]re: size & power consumption, you may be right, but the TCMS units I've seen are about 30" x 20" x 10" and require two people to lift. They use mains power, and the modern ones generate so much heat they have a water-cooling attachment.
-- mouseposture, Apr 15 2012


[mouseposture]

Sorry for the long delay in responding. [irony intended!]

I'm not sure how much energy is required to disrupt the brain's timing. Section 8.1 of the first link shows a fairly small figure 8 that could be imagined to be worn in a hat.

I'd be interested to learn the application requiring enough power to use water cooling (?)
-- csea, Feb 13 2013



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