Mon

Jun 12
2006

Tim O'Reilly

Tim O'Reilly

Exploiting Physiological Differences

In a twist redolent of Mind Hacks, the NY Times reports on a ringtone that can be heard by teenagers but not by most adults. According to the story, "In settings where cellphone use is forbidden — in class, for example — it is perfect for signaling the arrival of a text message without being detected by an elder of the species." It's quite amusing, though, that the high pitched tone was originally developed as a product to drive away loitering teenagers while not bothering adults. So the spread of this ringtone for the opposite effect is quite a clever hack. That being said, this story makes me wonder what other products might be developed by exploiting physiological differences between people. Jedi mind tricks, here we come :-)

tags: hacks  | comments: 7   | Sphere It
submit:

 
Previous  |  Next

0 TrackBacks

TrackBack URL for this entry: http://blogs.oreilly.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-t.cgi/4715

Comments: 7

  Gerald Buckley [06.12.06 12:24 PM]

THAT is brilliant!... now if they can get it to sound like a high pitched voice that shills Apple gear... Ah, the applications abound!

  Shawn McCollum [06.12.06 12:57 PM]

I've seen this for the last few weeks and I'm still unsure how this ringtone differs from putting your phone on vibrate mode. Some adults can hear the message also. If this ringtone is so popular maybe there is a market for other secret notification toys that work through bluetooth. Like a pen with an led that blinks when a new message is received.

  Greg [06.12.06 01:03 PM]

Um, why can't the kids just put their phone on vibrate? Then they could still know when a message was delivered, but nobody could hear it, since it is on vibrate?

I wish eveyone put their phones on vibrate.

  Wanderley [06.12.06 03:00 PM]

"Um, why can't the kids just put their phone on vibrate?"


Because then the other kids can't hear it.




I think this is about making a fool of your teacher and having everyone know about it.


If it is true at all. I heard that most cell phone speakers can't reach the frequency...

  Joe Hunkins [06.12.06 05:26 PM]

Ummm .... I'm sorry ... what ?

  Greg [06.13.06 10:58 AM]

Wanderley-

Ah, yes... That makes sense.. It has been a while since I have been in High School and I forgot...

  jose [06.20.06 05:43 PM]

its actually really cool that we can receive txt messages and calls without anyone else knowing about it because there is the kid that always wants to know whats happening with everyone else's life that just wont leave you alone in the middle of the class. we teenagers dont really care about any onelse knowing about our in class txting, we do it because we are bored

Post A Comment:

 (please be patient, comments may take awhile to post)






Type the characters you see in the picture above.

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

RECENT COMMENTS