Device Designed To Annoy Young People Can Now Annoy Everyone

from the bzzzz dept

Tue, Dec 2nd 2008 7:01pm — Mike Masnick

We've written about the Mosquito device a few times in the past. Originally launched back in 2005, the device emitted a high pitched annoying noise that could only be heard by those under 25 (or thereabouts). As people get older, we lose the ability to hear noises at higher pitches. So the device tried to take advantage of this, so that shopkeepers could use the device to ward off loitering kids. It was pretty obnoxious, though it hardly seemed like a violation of human rights, as some claimed. If annoying a certain age group with sound is a human rights violation, I'd imagine playing certain types of music would be seen as a human rights violation.

Of course, some kids realized that rather than being a violation of their rights, such a noise could be used to their advantage. Some turned the noise from the Mosquito into a ringtone that their parents and teachers couldn't hear.

However, the makers of the device have apparently released a new version of the Mosquito that has an option where the pitch is lowered a bit so that it can annoy pretty much everyone. You've got to imagine that such a product is not targeted at shop owners and the like this time around, unless they'd prefer no business whatsoever. It seems that right now the new version is being used in places like parking garages, where actual customers are quick to leave anyway, and proprietors are trying to get homeless people to move along. Of course, as with any such thing, there's apparently a group of folks who are pushing for legislation to ban the devices. It's difficult to see why such legislation is needed. Eventually, people will realize that driving people away from a business probably isn't a very good business idea.

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Filed Under: annoying, mosquito, uk

17 Comments

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Jesse, 2 Dec 2008 @ 8:21pm

If I came across a business with such a device, I would sit just outside there property line and play obscenely annoying music. Maybe it isn't a human righs violation, but they can't exactly complain about other people being annoying if they use mosquito.
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Grokk, 2 Dec 2008 @ 8:26pm

Noise pollution.
I'm suprised this hasn't been nipped in the butt given that it's more or less noise pollution.
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William, 2 Dec 2008 @ 8:29pm

Annoying
I'm currently in high school. The ring tone idea never really was that widely used by teenagers. If someone did have it and it rang in the middle of class, we all complained and yelled at the kid tell they turned it off. I now haven't heard one in months. They used to be in almost every class.

So because of that experience, I'm pretty sure many shoppers will complain to any store trying to use this. I sure would.
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Old_Norse, 2 Dec 2008 @ 8:45pm

Re: Noise pollution.
"nipped in the butt"? Ha ha, that's about the dumbest thing I've ever heard! It's "nipped in the bud" (think gardening). Sheesh.
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Your Gawd and Master, 2 Dec 2008 @ 11:02pm

just in case
In case of Sonic Attack on your district, follow these rules:

If you are making love it is imperative to bring all bodies to orgasm simultaneously.
Do not waste time blocking your ears.
Do not waste time seeking a "sound proofed" shelter.
Try to get as far away from the sonic source as possible
Do not panic
Do not panic

Use your wheels. It is what they are for.
Small babies may be placed inside the special cocoons
and should be left, if possible, in shelters.
Do not attempt to use your own limbs.
If no wheels are available - metal - not organic -
limbs should be employed whenever practical.

Remember:
In the case of sonic attack survival means
"Every man for himself"
Statistically more people survive if they think
only of themselves
Do not attempt to rescue friends, relatives, loved ones
You have only a few seconds to escape
Use those seconds sensibly or you will inevitably die
Think only of yourself
Think only of yourself
Do not panic
Think only of yourself
Think only of yourself

These are the first signs of sonic attack:
You will notice small objects - such as ornaments - oscillating
You will notice vibrations in your diaphragm
You will hear a distand hissing in your ears
You will feel the need to vomit
You will feel dizzy
You will have difficulty focussing
You will need to breathe more rapidly
There will be bleeding from orifices
There will be an ache in the pelvic region
You may be subject to fits of hysterical shouting or even laughter

These are all sign of imminent sonic destruction
Your only protection is flight
If you are less than ten years old
Remain in your shelter and use your cocoon
Remember - you can help no one else
You can help no one else
You can help no one else
Do not panic
Think only of yourself
Think only of yourself
Think only of yourself

Think only of yourself

Think only of yourself

Think only of yourself

--Hawkwind
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DS, 3 Dec 2008 @ 5:10am

Re:
That would not to work. Why? For every obscenely annoying song, there's someone(s) who are it's world's biggest fans.

And the more annoying the song, the more annoying the fans.
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Ferin (profile), 3 Dec 2008 @ 5:25am

Just wait
I can't wait to see this deployed. You know there has to be some obnoxious, stinking animal or bug out there that will think this thing is emitting a bloody mating call, and that will be the end of it.

And btw, I do consider country music to be a violation of human rights.
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Enrico Suarve, 3 Dec 2008 @ 6:05am

No legislation required?
Yeah I can agree with that as long as the sound is not audible outside your property line do what you want

Problem is sound doesn't behave like that and if these are used with anything like the carefree abandon that the previous devices were then this is likely to become a noise pollution problem

I'm not sure seperate legislation is required but it should definitely be appended to existing laws so offending devices can be quickly removed without having to go via the courts - thats one of the often overlooked advantages of effective legislation in my opinion, speeding up the process to rectify a problem if it does occur
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nipseyrussell, 3 Dec 2008 @ 9:28am

Re: Annoying
"I'm currently in high school. The ring tone idea never really was that widely used by teenagers.....
..... They used to be in almost every class."

so it was not widely used...outside almost EVERY class. OK, then, back to your schooling.
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Chuck Norris' Enemy (deceased), 3 Dec 2008 @ 11:22am

Re:
All I can tell you is watch out for the RIAA enforcement van.
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Jan Cosgrove, 8 Dec 2008 @ 4:15pm

Mosquito
Has it occurred to you that thee people most likely to be affected are BABIES and SMALL KIDS some of whom won't be able to TELL YOU why they're upset when you're out SHOPPING. God, how people hate kids, it's sick. OK I invent a device that distresses grannies because they clog up supermarket queues? Oh no, that's ok maybe, but I'm commissioning someone to invent me a device that every time I get pissed off with the number of cars speeding past my door, when I switch it on, they all stop and won't go. Then the authorities would act. Precious right to motor. If anyone approves of this stuff they condone bullying, taking the law into their own hands and vigilanteism. What about kids having the right to go about their lawful business without hindrance? Or is that off the agenda now? People have installed these in their gardens to use when neighbours kids play in theirs. Make it unlawful, because it's discrimination on grounds of age. The firm still advertises the new version as scaring off kids.
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youareallmorons, 2 Feb 2009 @ 5:31pm

You are all whacked!
Why don't all of you just shut the fuck up. I recently purchased a device with 4 piezo horns that I direct at my neighbors dogs. The nice thing is it allows me to adjust the frequency to dip into the audible range and then to the higher frequency that dogs/"younger people" can hear. It works great to 'inform' the drunken leather faced lush who sits in her back yard, talking on her phone, drinking beer while her dogs bark non-stop at everything! Screw you all!
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david mcadam, 27 Aug 2010 @ 5:17pm

syphycologists/syphciatrits/criminals/police/army/intelli.!
Plain Text: A CRLF will be replaced PIEZOELECTRICITY IS A PROVEABLE SUBSTANCE GIVEN IN ALL MEDICATIONS AROUND THE WORLD. AS A FORM OR CERAMIC/SILICON COATING CONTAINING CRYSTAL FORMATION. THIS RESPONDS AFTER TAKEN BY ANY PATIENT OR ILLNESS. SUBJECTED TO SONIC/SOUND WAVE SPECTRUM THE SCIENTISTS HAVE FOUND IT CAN CAUSE PEOPLE TO HAVE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ILLNESSES OF ANY TYPE/AGE/GENDER OR IN ANY FORM OF PERFECT OR CRIPPLED ILLNESS PRIOR TO THE SECRET TESTING OF MULTIMILLIONS OF PEOPLE/CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD. DIRECT ON/CHEMICAL INDUCED/THE SUBJECT/INDIVIDUAL OR OTHERWISE KNOWN AS VICTEMS,,HAVE LITTLE OR NO CHOICE IN THEIR ACTIONS,PRISONS DOCTORS HEALTH CTRS ECT BULLEMIA/ANNAREXIA ECT IN CHILDREN TO MURDER CAN BE ACHEIVED WITH THIS SYSTEM. AS IT STANDS THEY INSERT MICRO CHIPS IN CHILDREN "FACEBOOK SEARCH ,"HAVE YOU BEEN CHIPPED "FROM THE 60S BABIES TO VIETNAM VETS TO UK AND EUROPE AND AUS WERE CHIPPED BY USA GOVERNMENT DIRECTIVE.NASAL MICS/EYE CONTACTS THAT ARE MICRO COMPUTER ENHANCED /COCHLEAR IMPLANTS ARE COMMON NOW. SO THEY CAN SEE/HEAR/SENSE , WHAT YOU DO 24/7..THINK ABOUT IT, SILICON IS THE MOST ABBUNDENT CRYSTAL ON EARTH. HENCE SILICON CHIPS IN COMPUTERS. WHY? BECAUSE SILICON VIBATES CREATING A ELECTRICAL CHARGE THAT WORKS THE CHIP IN COMPUTERS.THEY WORK ON A SONIC /AIR/LAND /IN,ON SEA. IT CREATES ELECTRICITY JUST BY KINETIC MOVEMENT ALONE. YOU YOUR OWN GENERATOR FOR THE CHIP IN YOUR ARM/NECK/BRAIN/BACK/LEGS ECT. THIS POWERS THE HEARING/SEEING DEVICE INSIDE YOU.SMALLER THAN A POINT OF A NEEDLE EVEN IN THE 60S,LINKED TO THE THEN MASS SUPER COMPUTERS OF THE DAY "THE MILITRY INTERNET HAD A UNKNOWN NAME" GATES WAS JUST A FRONT FOR TODAYS MEDIA. SO IF YOU ARE USED IN BIO/PHARMACEUITICAL/MECHANICAL STUDIES TO THE SUEICIDE OR PRISONS ECT THEN THATS IT.THE SILICON CREATES PIEZOELECTRICITY WHEN COMPRESSED BY NOISE SONIC HIGH/LOW FREQS ARE ENOUGH TO DRIVE YOU INSANE TO ANY POINT.THE CHIPS ARE CONNECTED TO MILITRY PHONES AS A FORM OF GPRS WITH 900 MILE RADIUS MINIMUM.IN EFFECT THEY DONT NEED TO MOVE TO TRACK YOU AROUND THE WORLD,ONE NET TO THE NEXT.THEY CAN ISOLATE YOU UNTIL YOU DIE,OR PAY PEOPLE TO CAUSE YOU STRESS.THIS STRESS INITS SELF AGITATES THE SILICON TO MAKE YOU FEEL FURTHER STRESS, IF YOUR CHIPPED YOU HAVE ZERO PRIVACEY INSIDE OUT OF YOUR BODY,,,THEY CAN IMAGE SEE AND HEAR PREDICT TEXT TYPE AUDITORY HALLUCINATIONS TO AND FROM YOU.FROM THE NEXT COUNTRY.MICROCHIPS IN COMPUTERS WORK AT AROUND 8GHZ HOME PC,,BUT IT CAN BE AGITATED WITH MOSQUITO PIEZOELECTRICITY TO THOUSANDS OF TIMES THE SPEED.IF YOUR UNLUKY TO BE CHIPPED ASWELL THEY CAN BOUNCE YOU ROUND THE WALLS OR TOWNS CITYIES OR COUNTRIES AT THEIR DISCRECTION.FOR THOSE WHO DO THIS ITS A MULTI BILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS IN COGNITIVE THEARAPY ALSO WATHING AND KNOWING HOW YOU/YOUR CHILD MUTILATES THEMSELS,OR THEM WATCHING YOU. ITS MORE THAN LIKELY THAT MOST OF WESTERN PEOPLE ARE CHIPPED SINCE THE 60S, SO THEY CAN CAN DECIDE HOW AND FROM WHAT YOU DIE OF, OR TAKE YOU INTO A CONFINEMENT /INSTITUTION ECT,TO BE BUTCHERED ALIVE.THEY NEED TO SEE THE ORGANS AND BONES SKIN ECT TO SEE THE DEVELOPMENT OVER THE YEARS.THIS IS A MASS HUMAN RESAOURCE TO THEM.LIFE IS LESS THAN A DOLLAR.THEY DEAL IN LIFE AND DEATH ALL DAY, SO ITS WORTH MONEY TO WATCH SOMEBODY COMMIT SUICIDE OR BEING BUTCHERED ALIVE WHERE THEY CAN MONITOR EVERY BODY FRQS AND YOUR LAST THOUGHTS AS YOU LEAVE THIS WORLD. SOME COLLECT THE VARIOUS BODY PARTS AFTER SOME USE THEM AS SEX TOYS AT PRIVATE ORGINISED PARTIES WORLD OVER.THERE IS NO LAWYER/BARRISTER/COURT/HOSPITAL/DOCTOR/PRISON/CHARITY/INSTITUTION OF ANY TYPE WHERE THEY CAN NOT GET ACCESS TO YOU ,OR PEOPLEARE WAITING FOR YOU,OR ARE WILLING TO METHOD ACT TO GET TO YOU.THE POLICE AREA WASTE OF TIME AND HAVE TO BY LAW TURN A BLIND EYE TO IT WORLD OVER.ITS JUST TOO BIG A BUSINESS FOR THEM.PLUS THEY CAN CONTROL ONE/MILLION ONE NATION/ONE AREA ASAND WHEN REQUIRED.THEY GOT ME.IM SHORT TIMMER HERE IN STRATFORD UPON AVON UK.THERE IN DIVERSE ROLES HIGH AND LOW RIGHT DOWN ON THE STREET.IF YOU KNOW SOME ONE SUFFERING LET ME KNOW I KNOW MORE ...
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DAVID MCADAM, 27 Aug 2010 @ 5:57pm

Re: You are all whacked!
dude read mine underneath no.13. thats why your neighbours causing you to think the stuff you wrote.if your carrying a chip you will find you are a problem to some one else with a chip in them.if not your part of society that kills millons with it evry year . you just dont think outside the backyard yet.you will.
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david mcadam, 27 Aug 2010 @ 6:55pm

links militry bases private pharmaceuitical companies
i traced directors working privately one militry base and sub companyies in the uk to the usa glaxo ect that are into cognitive mind eye enhancement and silicon micro dot chips for insertion into babies and adults all ages /races.THEY ARE POLITICAL LAW ARMY AND PRIVATE THEY ARE HIGHLY SKILLED AND TECHNO GEEKS.THEY SPECIALISE IN HUMAN CONTROL AND HAVE CLEARENCE AT CHILD BIRTH HOSPITALS AND ALL FORMS OF LAW TO PROTECT THEM. I TYPED IN NAPHILL MILITRY BASE FOUND RESEARCH, FOLLOWED PRIVATE DIRECTORS FEILDS OR INTERESTS IN NANO PIEZOELECTRICAL ENHANCED COMPUTER CONTROLLED EMOTIONED /FEELING AND COGNITIVE THOUGHT PROCESS UNDER PRESSURE. ITS LEGAL FOR THEM IN UK AND WESTERN COUNTRIES /USA TO DO THIS ON A LARGE SCALE. BY THE WORD OF LAW THEY USE ITS...IN THE INTERESTS SCIENCE AND THE FUTHERMENT OF MEDICAL/MILITRY SCIENCE....THIS IS LOOP HOLE IN THE LAW FOR THE MASS MURDERS THE WESTERN GOVERNMENTS COMMIT EVERY YEAR. THE NAPHILL MILITRY BASE IS IN THE UK AND LINKED TO EVERY OTHER RESEARCH BASE ABOVE AND UNDER GROUND WITH CAT 2 TO 4 CLEAN ROOMS WHERE THEY TAKE SOME LIVE HUMANS FOR SLAUGHTER RESARCH. THE OTHERS ARE UNDER PRISIONS GENERIC HOSPITALS OR A SUB WING OF THE INSTALLATION. THEY AQUIRE THE REST THROUGH THE LAW OF AUTOPSY AND PATHOLOGY. SILICON IMPLANTS "CHIPPED"OR LACED UP WITH PIEZOELECTRICAL FLUID OR MEDS TABLETS FOR WHATEVER THEYVE TOLD YOU YOUR SUFFERING FROM OR FORCED TO HAVE"TABLETS COATED WITH PIEZOELECTRICAL CERAMIC CRYSTALINE FORM TO ENHANCE THE THE REMOTE/OR DIRECT MOSQUITO TORTURE. ITS NOT A MATTER AS WHETHER ITS IMMORAL TO THEM BECAUSE OF THE DOLLAR THATS INVOLLVED TO THE STUDENTS AND SCIENTISTS ENVOLVED WITH THIS WORK.AS EVIL AS IT IS.......BONES /MUSCLES/HUMAN TISSUE RESONATE WHEN EXPOSED TO A CERTIN FREQS FROM PIEZOELECTRICAL TORTURE. ANOTHER FORM OF THIS IS TINITUS/TINNITUS OR WHITE NOISE. IT IS INFACT PIEZOELECTRICAL SIGNALS IN THE BRAIN THAT THEBRAIN TISSUE AND INNER EAR CAN INTERERATE AS A NOISE.PLEASE NOTE THAT DEPPENDING ON THE FREQS USED BY THESE PEOPLE THE NOISE CAN RESONATE OUTSIDE THE SKULL AND BE HEARD WITHIN A SHORT DISTANCE OF THE SUBJECT.RAPPID JERKING/SPASM LIMBS MUSCLES FACE EYES NOSE THROAT TEMP CHANGES IN BODY AND SYMPTOMS TO ANY OLD KNOWN ILLNESS OR SHAKING FEAR OR ANY FORM OF MENTAL ILLNESS IS DUE TO THE MILITRY/SCIENTIFIC ENHANCED FORMATION OF PIEZOELECTRITY USED TO STUDY/MONITOR/KILL SELL THE INFO ONE LARGE CO.TO AN OTHER.THE LINK IS ALL DOCTORS/SCIENTISTS/GOVERMENTS/MONARCHYS/LAW/LAWS/PRIVATE COMPUTER DEVELOPERS TO PHARMACEUITICAL/MILITRY/SCIETIFIC RESEARCH ESPECIALLLY SYPCHIATRISTS /SYPCHOLOGITS STUDENTS TEACHERS WHO HIDE THIS FACT.TO THOSE IN THE KNOW ITS RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSE ON THE INTERNET IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR LOOKING FOR OR WHO.MY LAST GIRLFRIEND SHARON AGAR-HUTTY WAS A ORPHAN CHILD BROUGHT UP BY SCIENTISTS WORKING ON NAPHILL MILITRY BASE IN THE UK. WE PARTED. BUT I TRACED WHAT SHE TAUGHT ME ABOUT THE REALITY OF DRUGS COMPANIES AND THE POWER GIVEN TO THEM BY STEALTH LAWS USA/UK/EUROPE/AUS TO USE WHO THEY CHOSE PER SISE SHAPE FORMATION OR SECT/CULT OR GROUP/INDIVIDUAL AS THEY SAW FIT.I TOLD HER TO GET F.... LATER I CHECJED EVRYTHING SHE SAID AND IT TURNS OUT SHES A SENIOR FORENSIC SYPCHOLOGIST QUALIFIED LAW DESIGN CAT 4 CLEAN LABS STEM CELL/SILICON BRAIN INSERTS AND EXSTENSIVE MILITRY /COMMERCIAL ADVISOR TO GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN UK. WE MET WHILE IN STRATFORD LAST MONTH 07/2010.TELLING AND SHOWING ME SHE LIVED IN THE WOODS AS NO FIXED ABODE, A TRAMP ITINERANT.TURNS OUT SHES HAS MULTIPUL QUALIFICATIONS AROUND THE WORLD AND SHE IS MILITRY/GOV ADVISOR TO EGYPT BASED AUS/DENMARK/CANADA/USA/CONDOLEZZA RICE ECT IN DEALING WITH INSETING MOSQUITO DEVICES INTO ADULTS CHILDREN IN CARIO TO CONTROL THE MEN, THEY CONTROL THE OIL/MILITRY LOCATIONS FOR NUCLEUR BASES ECT. THERE TO MULTITASK THE WHOLE AND ENTIRE MIDDLE EAST. PIEZOELECTRONICS DONT SHOW IN X-RAYS OF ANY TYPE BUT UNDER A CERTAIN LIGHT COMPUTER ENHANCED IMAGE THEY DO SHOW. DEFEAT PIEZOELECTRICAL EFFECT ON BODY AND MIND AND FIGHT THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY ARE THAT BAD NOW,,,,,HOW FAR ARE THEY GOING TO GGO DOWN THE HITLER/STALIN ECT ECT ECT WAY BACK IN HISTORY WHERE THESE PEOPLE CAME FROM AND BELONG.
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jonas, 25 Sep 2015 @ 1:13am

get the old cd player, put one song on repeat, boom, problem solved. after 5th repeat everybody gone
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Phil (profile), 30 Jun 2019 @ 12:00am

Long term damage
My daughter has a bedroom that overlooks a neighbours garden. New neighbours moved in and they wanted to stop her opening or looking out her window. They did lots of things from just being offensive to building a very high fence. It was after two years of ear balance and bouts of dizziness and sickness before I realised that she was being attacked by ultrasound. Daily and continued exposure damages.
I hired a device from Annoying ultrasound neighbours and they provided me with evidence I could take to the Police. These devices should be banned and now have been in some U.K. city’s.
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