A commuter rail company in the UK will install cellphone signal-blocking film on train windows in order to keep the peace. The film, which was developed in America, prevents cellphone signal from entering (and leaving) the train. With no signal getting through, people won’t be able to talk, loudly or otherwise, on their cellphones.
While some people may be all, “this infringes on my rights to talk to whomever I please,” just keep in mind that the film will only be installed on cars that are designated as quiet cars. That is, no one is supposed to be on their cellphone in those cars to begin with. The film merely helps ensure that that—no phones!—takes place. “Talk all you want” cars will still exist for those people who need to be on the phone.
I highlight this comment from the original Daily Mail article since it made me laugh, which is my most important barometer:
Whoever invented this blocking is a saint and saviour of the people! People under 20 may find this hard to believe, but life actually worked at least as well without mobiles…I first had one in 1993, before most people, for my profession, but it was a convenience not a necessity. The whole thing became a kind of pleb’s hobby in the UK, with “I’m on a train!” one of the worst cliches of the lot. Wow! On a train! That’s living!
Anyone who uses the phrase “pleb hobby” should be commended.
Now if they could invent a film that prevents children from screaming that would be more useful.
I’m not all about the right to yell into my phone, but I would find it irritating that I also couldn’t quietly surf the web.
+1. My thoughts exactly. Also, text messaging. Although (unless you have an iPhone or Blackberry Storm) the click-click-clicking might drive some insane.
I agree that although cellphone calls should be blocked in a quiet car, I think you should still be able to browse the internet while you sit there. That makes no noise and doesn’t bother anyone as much as talking, that is if it even bothers anyone else at all.
Perhaps they should implement free Wi-fi on all trains like they are starting to with airplanes.
Here is one way to use your microwave transceivers (cell phone, wi-fi device, bluetooth, etc.):
Public spaces and transportation services can install Infrared Data ports as two-way links to external radio devices. This would allow people to subject the outside world to harmful microwave frequencies while protecting the minds and bodies of those who are safely shielded within.
If you wanted to get rid of microwave transceivers altogether a network of publicly accessible IR data ports (or junctions) can be erected indoors and outdoors. Imagine never having to pay access fees to send or receive communications!
Lots of notebooks and PDA-type devices have an IR data port already built-in. For those that do not an add-on to their mini-USB, memory card slot, or other type of data connector would solve the problem.
I’m opposed to forcibly blocking phone calls, be it in movie theatres, on trains or inside buildings. What happens in an emergency ? You can’t just block people’s access to emergency communications. If someone in the “quiet” cars starts having a heart attack, how are you going to get information from the emergency services on how to help them ? Drag them into another car ? Call out instructions from the next car over ?
You hit the break and smash the window with foil on it and than make the call.
Surly in circumstances like this you should pull the emergency cord to inform the driver. Your going to get a quicker response from emergency services this way.
I think most of the onboard staff have first aid training etc (isn’t that a standard thing for most publish transport)
Isn’t blocking radio signals illegal in the UK? It’s the reason cinema’s etc haven’t done something about this before…
I’m not sure about this story. Sure, any normal human being is irritated by gits shouting into their phones; and they should learn how to behave in public. It doesn’t matter about “rights” - if only the aforementioned gits would learn that you need only to TALK into a phone, not shout. They’re that good these days. It doesn’t matter WHY cellphones annoy; the fact is, they do. So please, just stop using them inches from someone’s ear.
I have repeatedly emailed the train company concerned, inquiring whether the story is true. It has all the hallmarks of an urban myth and they have, so far, failed even to respond.