Posted on 06/19/2006 12:51:12 PM PDT by Abathar
All Things Considered, May 26, 2006 · The war between teens and authority figures has a new -- or old -- front: ears. British shopkeepers tired of teenage loiterers have turned to the Mosquito teen repellent, which emits a high-pitch frequency that most teenagers can hear -- but not most adults.
But now teens have struck back against the Mosquito: They are using the same sound to communicate without adults' knowledge.
At issue is a text-message ringtone that emits the same pitch as the Mosquito. Using it, students can learn about a new message while they're in class -- where they're not supposed to be using their cellphones. Most of their teachers can't hear the alert.
Inventor Howard Stapleton, creator of the Mosquito teen repellent, says only a few people over age 30 can hear the Mosquito's sound. He and his 16-year-old daughter Isabel talk to Melissa Block about the sound, which has been dubbed "Teen Buzz."
What? Speak up!!
We obviously need to ban mosquitos in order to save children from talking sex and making drug deals, which is all they ever do on the phone.
Oh please if this could only done with Rap Music in cars.
It's a straight high pitched whistling sound. Annoying as hell.
Yes I can hear it, and yes it's highly irritating.
If Nirvana were still around, they'd have the title for a new song:
"Sounds like Teen Buzz"
It's an annoying whistling sound. I guess I'm one of the lucky old people that can hear this.
Are you logged in?
I turned my headphones way up in case it was a faint sound. Now that my ears are ringing, I have to wonder how anyone could not hear this. Did anyone else try the sound file and not hear anything?
I'm 35 and I hear it. Piercing.
APf
I am 36 and I hear it just fine.
I can hear it, and I'm 56 years old.
Sounds like a 'test tone'.
For teens too stupid to use vibrate.
I work in a tool and die business, my hearing has been going bad for years. People tell me my watch beeps but I never hear it either...
I'm 42 and can hear it loud and clear although I had a had an urge to tightly grit my teeth.
I'm approaching senior citizen status and I can hear it. But only when my head is turned to one certain position. Then again, maybe that's just the nerves in my neck shrieking.
I have tinnitus, so I get to hear this all the time. And there's never a message waiting for me.
Don't worry, Abathar, I can't hear it either.
But my 10-year-old sure can....
"How can you not HEAR that???!!!"
Regards,
OldEars Knid.
I could hear it when I played the ringtone, but not when I listened to the report. Strange.
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