Friday, December 14th, 2007 10:56 am
Hat tip to [livejournal.com profile] dduane for finding this lovely item: a Bluetooth Vibrating Alert Cell Phone Bracelet with Proximity Warning for the Absent Minded. Apparently, you're supposed to wear it so that you can feel it vibrate when your phone rings or when you walk away leaving your phone behind.

I, on the other hand, want a setting I could send to such a bracelet from any nearby phone or desk. This setting would notify the user "You left your cell phone lying around where YOU can't hear it but the REST OF US have to listen to your HORRIBLE ring tone at an INSANE volume and I will zap you until you come fetch the thing and shut it up!" This would be ideal for open plan offices, and arguably it would be just as polite as finding the offending phone and stealing its battery.

Why no, no one in my office ever does that, ever; why do you ask? I'll say only that if I never again have to hear "I'm crazy for feeling, so lonely-hee" at the volume of a jackhammer, it will be twenty minutes too soon.
Friday, December 14th, 2007 07:16 pm (UTC)
Hey does this mean you'll finally be able to "hear" your phone ring?
Friday, December 14th, 2007 07:17 pm (UTC)
At least I'm not blasting everyone in a thirty-foot radius!
Friday, December 14th, 2007 08:03 pm (UTC)
I would so lose that bracelet.
Friday, December 14th, 2007 08:06 pm (UTC)
With metallic ink and some careful etching, perhaps it could be made in tattoo form.
Friday, December 14th, 2007 08:17 pm (UTC)
My cell phone is almost always on vibrate. I know what you mean about annoying noises.
Friday, December 14th, 2007 09:06 pm (UTC)
Mine is often inaudible on its loudest setting. (It sits in my purse.) Annoying as that may be to [livejournal.com profile] rfrench occasionally, I admit I'm reluctant to get a phone capable of seriously peeving everyone around me. I didn't want a car alarm on my car; I sure don't want one in my pocket.
Friday, December 14th, 2007 09:08 pm (UTC)
I keep mine in a belt holster. Would that be impractical for you?
Friday, December 14th, 2007 09:29 pm (UTC)
When I move to the next smaller phone that will probably work. Belt holsters can be awkward because there's only about two inches of space between my ribs and my hip bone.
Friday, December 14th, 2007 09:43 pm (UTC)
I can hardly hear my phone either. Which is weird, because it can still bug some people.
Some of its rings are loud enough, but luckily not too obnoxious. Who doesn't like Trans Siberian Orchestra?
But I do object to my son-in-law calling Take 5 by Brubeck as being elevator music. That kid (he's 34) needs a lesson in Great Jazz.
Friday, December 14th, 2007 10:18 pm (UTC)
That's so funny you should bring that up! Just down the hall from me, the bookstore marketing person leaves her cell phone on her desk, set to LOUD. But she's most of the time on the sales floor. Her phone rings often with some bizarre Mambo-Latina dance music (she's a vibrate Irish-Hispanic.) LOUDLY and OFTEN.

I long for the days of front-desk receptionist that take messages or desk phones that just ring-a-ding.
Friday, December 14th, 2007 10:26 pm (UTC)
At my previous job, two coworkers and I once took somebody's cell phone and buried it in a box of Kleenex, then wrapped that in the guy's coat. It had been going all morning, we were on a tight deadline, and we just couldn't take it any more. We left him a note explaining what we had done and why.

These days, now that I'm much more familiar with many phones' menu systems, whenever I find an unattended phone I just set it to catch fire. ;-)
Friday, December 14th, 2007 10:37 pm (UTC)
Ooops..."vibrate" in my post should be "vibrant"...I think I had the cell phone in my mind!
Friday, December 14th, 2007 10:37 pm (UTC)
I'd rather hear great jazz in an elevator than most other stuff. O'course, me being me, I'd rather hear QUIET in an elevator. :)
Friday, December 14th, 2007 10:38 pm (UTC)
She's vibrant and her phone should vibrate? Works for me!
Friday, December 14th, 2007 10:58 pm (UTC)
That would be so very, very awesome.
Saturday, December 15th, 2007 01:56 am (UTC)
All I want for Xmas is a taser that homes in on ringing cell phones.

Saturday, December 15th, 2007 02:24 am (UTC)
a friend of mine has her cell phone set to say "Your mother is calling, your mother is calling" for the ringtone associated with her mother's phone number. sheesh.
Saturday, December 15th, 2007 02:44 am (UTC)
On a similar note, this is on my wish list this year. Being in public places can be torture. That "volume down" button would be such a blessing!
Saturday, December 15th, 2007 02:45 am (UTC)
That reminds me of cars in the early eighties. "The door is ajar! The door is ajar!" No, the door is a DOOR, and shut UP. I am not surprised that feature didn't last!
Saturday, December 15th, 2007 04:56 pm (UTC)
OK. that's what I want for Xmas.

In fact, I just ordered one.
Monday, December 17th, 2007 05:49 pm (UTC)
There's a similar item on my dad's wish list. I'm surprised more people don't want them.