Subject: Cracking Down on Cell Phone Abusers (Burmaster)
Date: Fri, 15 Oct 1999 045941 -0500 (CDT)
From: "Roy L. Beavers"
To: emfguru
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 15 Oct 1999 00:53:16 EDT
From: Envoptions@aol.com
To: rbeavers@llion.org
Subject: SX1: Cracking Down on Cell Phone Abusers
Cracking Down on Cell Phone Abusers
Forwarding an article from Popular Science Magazine, page 55, November 1999.
Background: Popular Science Magazine is a monthly, about a hundred page long,
magazine published in the U.S.A. for the mass market. Its purpose is to
showcase the "latest" in technology. It is available on newsstands across
the country with a large (greater that one million) subscription base. In
general they are pro new technology, although sometimes an environmental
issue is addressed. The following is the complete text of an article in the
"Newsfronts, Electronics" section:
"MOBILE PHONES, Cracking Down on Cellphone Abusers
IN SOME PLACES, like on the bus, cellphone use is merely annoying. But in
other places such as an airplane, it's downright dangerous - and a crime.
But soon law enforcement agencies could have help in the form of new
technology that temporarily disables wireless handsets.
The advance couldn't have come at a better time. Just this past summer,
a British court slapped a citizen with with a one year jail sentence after he
repeated ignored a British Airway crew's pleas to switch off his cellphone.
Aviation officials say the phones can interfere with the aircraft navigation
systems and controls for cabin pressure and air conditioning.
Meanwhile, cellphone use at at gas stations in Cicero, Illinois -
backed with $50 to $500 fines - and EXXON began posting "turn off cellular
phone" signs at its filling stations. Research suggests that signals can
ignite combustible materials, which is why cellphones pose a risk anywhere
flammable gasses are present. The user doesn't have to be making a phone
call either; the phones emit radio signals even when in standby mode.
The technology to disable cellphones was developed by a German
subsidiary of Motorola. It works somewhat like a walk-through metal
detector: An antenna and transceiver at the gateway pick up signals from a
phone or pager, then sends instructions to the device's microprocessor to
disable certain functions, including the pager's audible alert. So if a
cellphone is turned on within the restricted area, it will not operate. Upon
exiting the controlled area the process is reversed. Motorola won't comment
on the system, but Britain's Civil Aviation Authority says it's studying the
feasibility of employing the technology. --- Stephen A Booth"
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My question (facetiously) is: if one had a personal version would one be less
exposed if the gadget has to continuously broadcast to keep the cellphones
from broadcasting?
My serious question is: Is anyone in the EMF-l group familiar with this
development? What are the thoughts / comments / opinions on the technology.
==========================
Spark Burmaster
Environmental Options
Chaseburg, Wisconsin, USA
608-483-2604
Archive provided courtesy of WaveGuide, http://www.wave-guide.org
Reprinted with permission of Roy Beavers, http://www.emfguru.com