Cell Phone Signal Jammers

[Paranitis]

I read on Yahoo! News about how in different parts of the world certain places like churches, and theatres, and trains, and stuff like that..they are installing signal jammers to cut down on annoyances and somesuch.

I actually love this idea, especially for holy places and movie theatres. Because there is nothing worse than sitting in the middle of a wedding, funeral, or movie and then having some techno music start playing out of nowhere and ruining the mood.

I can understand from both sides of the fence though. People say "but what about emergencies?". Well, the way I see it..if the signal is blocking everyone's phones then you might be inconvenienced, but it also stops people from calling people on their cell phones or receiving casual calls that inconvenience everyone else.

So either it is an inconvenience for those who MIGHT have an emergency, or it is an inconvenience for those bastards that really don't care enough to not inconvenience everyone else.

What are your views?

[fable]

Earlier last week, the French parliament passed a bill into law permitting these cell signal blockers in performance halls, provided exceptions were made for emergencies. I'm curious about how they'd allow emergencies, too. How could you tell if an emergency call is coming through to someone watching a play?

I'm very annoyed at people who bring cell phones to the theater. One opera conductor received a solid round of applause when he refused to continue with a performance until a person with a beeping cell phone left the theater, so others feel that way, too. But I'd rather put up with the idiots and have ushers walk them out rather than have one person's life lost because a physician couldn't be reached in time.

[Paranitis]

Well, they aren't ALWAYS on..they are controlled by remote control. So when a movie starts or a religious service starts then it turns on. If someone is having a heart attack or something you go into the hallway or something and shout for someone to turn the thing off.

They have a range of like 100 feet or so. So if the thing is in the middle of the theatre then you can probably walk outside the doors of your specific movie and use the cell phone.

[fable]

Originally Posted by Paranitis

Well, they aren't ALWAYS on..they are controlled by remote control. So when a movie starts or a religious service starts then it turns on. If someone is having a heart attack or something you go into the hallway or something and shout for someone to turn the thing off.

But how do you know by cell phone if you're a doctor attending a drama when one of your patients is in need of your immediate attention, if you can't get the phonecall telling you that information?

[Paranitis]

Well..they mentioned in the story that it IS possible to bypass it in emergencies..but I have no clue why.

[Moonbiter]

Its a sad state of affairs that it has gotten this far. That people can't show the responsebility and empathy with other people by turning the damn thing off or on silent call. I've even encountered people warbling away loudly next to me in the theater.

[Vicsun]

Originally Posted by Paranitis

Well..they mentioned in the story that it IS possible to bypass it in emergencies..but I have no clue why.

I think what they mean is outgoing emergencies - e.g. if someone is having heart attack in the theatre. As not all theatres will be equipped with such jammers, people who really do need to be contacted 24/7 can go to theatres which don't have them.

[giles337]

Why do this? wouldn't it be simpler to line the insides of theatres with wire mesh, creating a smiple farday cage?

[C Elegans]

I don't really see the problem with disallowing emergency calls at theatres etc. People called for doctors and ambulances before the cell phone time?

All theatres and concert halls I've ever been to, have reception or door staff that has access to a stationary telephone. Also, the lobbies of theatres etc usually have a phone. There is also the option of running out on the street and place a phone call on you mobile.

Last year a man sitting in front of me at the cinema, suddenly lost consciousness during the movie. The person he was with called out, I made a brief examination of the man, and then I rushed out to the guy in the door and asked him to call an ambulance immediately, which he of course did. I don't see how allowing cell phones to be turned on during the performance would have changed anything.

[Aegis]

Just my comment. I don't know how exactly they'll be able to discriminate emergencies from regular calls. If it can be done, great.

Though, at the same time, my cell phone is my primary line. If it's off, I can miss out on work, and such, in addition to casual calls. though, fortuneatly, I have a silent mode, which is ironically more effective at getting my attention then the ringer itself.

[Paranitis]

Lemme guess..vibrate..in your lap? lol..my friend does that with his phone in his car.