Microsoft is developing a new technology that could force mobiles into silent mode, or even prevent calls from being made.
The new technology, which has been submitted to the patent office, would connect to all mobiles in a theatre or cinema, for instance, and force them to be quiet or even switch off.
Snap-unhappy
The same document also made reference to technology that could block digital cameras working on the same device, thus preventing copyrighted work, in areas like libraries, being photographed.
No word has been given on when such a device might go on sale, though it would have to prove the case for the technology anyway.
Phone jammers, which work in small spaces, are banned in the UK and come with a hefty fine for use.
This is due to the possibility of emergency services being impeded, so Microsoft would have to prove any jamming technology would still allow these calls to be made.
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bilateralrope
June 20th 2008
3. It is a useful idea. But for it to work, I would have to give up control of my phone to an unknown third party (any person who gets hold of the control system, or builds their own one).
Now if it was a well designed system that could only do a small range of things, then it might be acceptable depending on what it did. But that would require me to trust Microsoft when they say that software they wrote is secure, despite their track record with computer security.
An insecure system could potentially let people have access to any data stored on your phone. And if they have high enough bandwidth along the frequencies used for this, it also opens the possibility that they could make calls using my phone.
As such, the only way I'll be buying a phone that supports this is if I have no choice. Which means making it illegal to sell phones that don't support this. And even then, I'll try to disable it.
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thanks
June 20th 2008
2. That's a lousy idea.
Personal responsibility is key.
If someone's phone rings in the theater, have them escorted out of the movie.
I silence (vibrate mode) my phone, if I receive a call, I step out of the theater to take it.
I believe that people like Doctors, or hell, volunteer fire-fighters would like to see a movie without worrying that their entertainment caused someone to die because their phone / pager / text device was turned off/silenced because someone might be inconvenienced...
First time I see my phone automatically silenced, I will not only sue the theater, but the phone manufacturer and carrier that allowed it to come into being.
People need to take responsibility for their actions, not hand that responsibility over to the corporations who think they are our masters.
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jmace86
June 16th 2008
1. That sounds like a really good idea. I really hate it when some moron in a cinema or at a concert has neglected to turn their phone onto silent mode and it ends up ringing.
The same tech being used to stop cameras from taking pictures or capturing video of copyrighted material is also a great idea IMO.
I hope this gets approved.
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