There’s an unsurprising UPI story on the wires today:
The National Association of Theater Owners wants the Federal Communications Commission to allow the blocking of cell phone signals in theaters.[...]
The Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association — a Washington-based cell phone lobby that is also known as CTIA-the Wireless Association — said it would fight any move to block cell phone signals.
This gives me an idea. What if it were possible for the industry to standardize on some sort of a low power no-ring beacon for use in limited situations (e.g. theaters, restraunts). When a cell phone is in the presence of this beacon, it goes to vibrate-only mode.
This doesn’t do anything to solve the problem of rude people holding loud phone conversations in theaters or restraunts. I’d extend the idea to a “text-only mode” beacon, except many American adults aren’t text-message users, and I can imagine voice communications being required in case of emergency.
Having an automagical way to disable ringers would, I think, go a long way towards addressing the problem of inconsiderate cell phone users.
I suppose my ultimate solution of simply banning all ringtones, and requiring phones and PDAs to be vibarate-only would be going too far. But I can dream, can’t I?
1 response so far ↓
1 jgfellow // 21 Dec 2005 at 12:15 am
Blue tooth was supposed to achieve this. As you walked into the theatre, the theatre would talk to your phone and your phone would make the appropriate change. I’m not sure why this technology never gained momentum…