Forget Vibrate, What About Shock Mode?

from the zzzzzzzzzaaaaaaaaaaap dept

Thu, Apr 20th 2006 6:03pm — Carlo Longino

Mobile-phone maker Motorola has received a patent for a system that uses electric shocks to let somebody know when they're phone is ringing, rather than the usual ringtone or vibration. The user wears a small pad with electrodes on their skin that's connected wirelessly to the phone, and get a shock -- which can be personalized, depending on the caller -- when they're called. It's hard to see this system really taking off, but especially not with users on the Great Wall of China, where phone users are supposedly already being electrocuted.

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29 Comments

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Steve, 20 Apr 2006 @ 5:56pm

This sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen...
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Don, 20 Apr 2006 @ 5:56pm

Motorola's Shock and awe phone
That is the most ridiculous idea they could come up with! Maybe it can shock some sense into some drivers that are always on their phones.
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Sheshanth, 20 Apr 2006 @ 5:56pm

Shock Code
Good idea to shock code some callers... like bad bosses, ex-girlfriends, incessantly friendly speakers, mother-in-laws. ;-)
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JL, 20 Apr 2006 @ 6:40pm

You won't miss someone calling...
I do like the customized shock however. Maybe if it catches on, you could download new shocks, or as they'll probably call them, shocktones! Oh man... being electrocuted to Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 sounds like loads of fun!

In all seriousness, I wonder how convenient people will find putting the pad on though...
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Faisal Rahman, 20 Apr 2006 @ 7:11pm

i think this is stupid....what if someone has heart problems? a small electric shock could probably kill them. Also...how are you going to get the phone if it keeps shocking you...because the shocks will contract your muscles tightly so you won't be able to move.
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Professor Highbrow, 20 Apr 2006 @ 7:25pm

Superb Idea!
I must say that this an excellent idea. I would like two electrodes, please, Motorola. One attached to each side of the head, at the temples.
This way some of the more insane members of our mobile phone society can receive an electro-shock treatment each time their phone rings. I would love to know their phone numbers as well, because I'm going to be redialing often when I find a guy parking a little too close to my car, or when the retard in front of me on the road can't seem to drive in a straight line and talk on the phone at the same time, ruining it for me and everybody else that doesn't have difficulty "multitasking."
Also useful for those that can't walk and chew gum at the same time.
With two electrodes, these could be attached anywhere, possibly even without permission from the cell phone user! Imagine the possibilities....
Hang on MAN!! I got another call! My nipples are burning!

--Professor HighBrow
(hittin' below the belt...)
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STJ, 20 Apr 2006 @ 7:38pm

What happens when a hacker breaks into the phone and ups the votage and length of the shock?
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Helter, 20 Apr 2006 @ 7:39pm

well...
As odd as it sounds, I'd probably be first in line for this. I regularly find myself in places where either the ambient noise is too loud to hear a phone, or I can't have the ringer one, yet I don't always notice the vibration in my pocket.
something that delivered a mild electric shock would be hard to miss, but also wouldn't draw attention like a loud ringer.
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Just Me, 20 Apr 2006 @ 8:13pm

Hmmmm....
Mother-in-law feature?
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suv4x4, 20 Apr 2006 @ 8:31pm

Perfect!
I also bet it works best if you have a pacemaker or touch someone with a pacemaker while the phone is ringing!

Lawsuits, here they come.
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Eric Jackson, 20 Apr 2006 @ 8:35pm

heh, they dont need shock mode, just a little vibrateing device on a wire.....or bluetooth!!!! is just fine for the ladies
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Anonymous Coward, 20 Apr 2006 @ 8:43pm

Re: Superb Idea!
EXACTLY #3!

shock the people who always have idiots calling em for stupid moronic and/or common sense stuff, and since they wont wanna get shocked, they'll yell at the morons calling em - that or they'll just spam the hell outta redial on whoever called em...
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xerog, 20 Apr 2006 @ 9:00pm

Re:
Do you honestly believe that a remotely connected battery powered shocking device is going to be hacked into? That's the dumbest thing I think I have ever heard. Now I won't say that Motorola has a great idea, but it couldn't hurt. I also know that a low-voltage shock from a battery powered device is not going to cause problems with a pacemaker and the whole purpose for having two electrodes on the device is so that is shocks only that person between those electrodes, not who ever they next touch. However I do see some moron out there fileing a lawsuit over it for one reason or another. It's the way America works saddly.
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the king, 20 Apr 2006 @ 9:13pm

Re:
this is the dumbest thing i have ever heard. contract your muscles, i tiny shock is not going to contract your muscles so you cant move. You need more than say a 12 V battery to make your muscles contract
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Marko Gato, 20 Apr 2006 @ 9:49pm

I know what i'll be getting my mom for her birthday. Nothing like keeping her on speed dial 1 and using it as a bark collar! Chores anyone?
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Anonymous Coward, 20 Apr 2006 @ 9:58pm

Re:
You honestly think they will set it shock you with enough amos to cause muscle contraction? You're an idiot! Three shocks and the phone battery life would be half gone.
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MadDawg, 20 Apr 2006 @ 10:43pm

Perfect for the wife.
No more excuses like "I didn't hear the ringer" or "I had it on vibrate but it was in my purse". I would request a bitch mode too so I can repeatedly call her when she starts on her "mode/mood".
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John C. Paulauski Jr., 20 Apr 2006 @ 10:51pm

I'd buy it, one could nap while waiting for a call also, get a rest from some noise
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Professor Highbrow, 21 Apr 2006 @ 12:04am

All the above ^
You've got a point there... for proper electroshock treatment or enough amperage to contract a muscle, we'd need much more power than a cell phone battery than a rechargable Lithium-Ion cellphone battery. It would be discharged after one "treatment."

We need a cigaratte lighter adaptor for this to work.
A large capacitor could be charged from the 12V automobile power supply, and discharged upon the victi....mmm I mean cell phone user at an appropriate amperage X voltage = power.

--Professor HighBrow
(business as usual since 1999)
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2006 @ 2:10am

Re: Re:
Do you honestly believe that a remotely connected battery powered shocking device is going to be hacked into?

Umm you mean like evrey other wireless device? All the device does is wait for a RF signal to preform its action. What makes you think it is so unbelieveably impossible to mimick that very same signal?
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Astounded Reader, 21 Apr 2006 @ 6:02am

Re: Re: Re:
I think he/she was trying to suggest that it may be possible, but what would be the point if the shock recieved is so slight that it wouldn't matter. Plus, there would be no way to turn up the voltage as a hacker when they will more than likely have that controlled by the hardware of the device, not by software.

I agree totally that the voltage will not be anything more than maybe touching a 9volt battery to your tongue and will not cause uncontrollable muscle twitching or problems with a pacemaker, etc.

Personally, I think its a great idea and look forward to one day trying it out. Although I do agree, the patch may be a little inconvenient to remember.
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Anonymous of Course, 21 Apr 2006 @ 7:32am

Re: All the above ^++ an automobile
This could solve the other cell phone problem.
The shock should be painful and the driver's
cell phone number posted on bumper sticker.
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Zeroth404, 21 Apr 2006 @ 7:36am

Can anyone say GAS STATION?

can anyone say BOOM?

can anyone say HORRIBLE IDEA?
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Zeroth404, 21 Apr 2006 @ 7:40am

If your calls are so important that you're willing to be electrocuted every time you get one, you've got bigger problems..

oh yeah, and theres the other point about BOOM.
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The Rambling Sentencer, 21 Apr 2006 @ 10:02am

Re: Superb Idea! can I choose where to place elect
Can I choose where to place electrodes?

If so, then I would like to place them on the driver in front of me talking on the cellphone, weaving on the road, driving so slow that she looks like she is at the head of a parade of other drivers also wanting to place an electroshock call to hang up and drive.
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hautedawg, 21 Apr 2006 @ 11:09am

Re: You won't miss someone calling...
My girlfriend has been putting pads on since she was 13, I guess you get used to it.
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Zeroth404, 24 Apr 2006 @ 5:41am

Re: Re: You won't miss someone calling...
13 is kind of old to start a period.

Now days, its expected to happen around 9.
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Dave, 4 May 2006 @ 12:43pm

Re: Re: Re: You won't miss someone calling...
Damn, this thread sort of went a little off course.
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Cassidy, 4 Jun 2006 @ 5:55am

"think this is stupid....what if someone has heart problems? a small electric shock could probably kill them. Also...how are you going to get the phone if it keeps shocking you...because the shocks will contract your muscles tightly so you won't be able to move." If the person has heart problems, then why would they even buy a shocking phone? And you could turn down the shock level, and the shocks wouldn't contract them tight enough so your ARMS COULDN'T MOVE TO GET THE PHONE! Seriously, evoloution gave you intelect- use it.
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