BS: Cell Phone As Therapy

Subject: BS: Cell Phone As Therapy
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 12:48 AM

This might be worth a song challenge, but probably it's more appropriate for discussion.

From GearLog, posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 8:00 AM

QUOTE:

Motorola Designs Therapeutic Vibrating Cell Phone

Have you ever wanted to put your cell phone on vibrate mode and give yourself a back massage? Well, soon there might be a therapeutic cell phone to help you out.

Motorola submitted a patent application on April 20 for a cell phone (or "wireless device") that can vibrate to alert you of an incoming call and/or "be used for therapeutic stimulation of the various epidermal and subcutaneous areas of the wearer's body."

Why did Motorola think this was a good idea? "Because muscle stimulation is known to have therapeutic effects," the patent says.

You can set the time that your phone will vibrate and choose a pre-programmed vibration pattern. Better yet, program your own pattern, or "alternatively, [a pattern] can be downloaded to the device...from, for example, a doctor's website or in-office computer by a therapist."

But don't think that this invention can only benefit humans. Fido has pain, too. "Other applications, such as training or therapeutic purposes on animals is within the true scope and spirit of the present invention."

END QUOTE:

Now which pocket did you put that in?

Does it affect your vision?

How does it improve your communication with others?

John

Subject: RE: BS: Cell Phone As Therapy
From: Metchosin
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 12:52 AM

Depends on the shape. LOL

Subject: RE: BS: Cell Phone As Therapy
From: Metchosin
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 12:59 AM

the possibility for answering machine messages are endless.....I can't come to the phone right now, would you please call back again....and again and again.

Subject: RE: BS: Cell Phone As Therapy
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 01:07 AM

Meanwhile,

Phillips (UK Electronics, for US readers who might them with a gas station) has applied on March 30, 2006 for a patent for:

QUOTE:

Apparatus and method for preventing switching from a channel during an advertisement display
Abstract
An apparatus (270) and method is disclosed for preventing a viewer from switching from a channel when an advertisement is being displayed on the channel. The apparatus (270) and method comprises an advertisement controller (270) in a video playback device (150) that (1) prevents a viewer of a direct (non-recorded) broadcast from switching channels when an advertisement is displayed, and (2) prevents a viewer of a recorded program from fast forwarding the recorded program in order to skip past advertisements that were recorded with the program. A viewer may either watch the advertisements or pay a fee in order to be able to change channels or fast forward when the advertisements are being displayed.

END QUOTE

At Gearlog, posted on Friday, April 21, 2006 4:08 PM, the comment has been edited to show that after the original was posting, Phillips has released a "Press Bulletin" that firmly stated: : "Philips never had the intention to force viewers to watch ads against their will and does not use this technology in any current Philips products, nor do we have any plans to do so."

… … … … Yet?

… … … … Now?

… … … … When?

I trust that this rapid-fire competition between US and UK to advance science and technology won't overwhelm the simple souls who "just want to have fun."

John

Subject: RE: BS: Cell Phone As Therapy
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 01:44 AM

From a Ziff-Davis email bulletin:

QUOTE:

Social Network for Losers

Can't find a friend? Too introverted to socialize? Leave it to the guys at Microsoft to solve the problem for you. Friendster, MySpace, even LinkedIn are for the cool, connected folks. Now there's a social network for shut-ins. Our story has all the details on this new network, called Wallop, including what makes it different. Is it really necessary to create a social network for the stereotypical socially inadequate scraggly-bearded pimply-faced closet dweller? Microsoft Thinks So.

END QUOTE

(The link is to eWeek: Microsoft Tries for a Social Wallop, By Ben Charny, April 26, 2006. Links there to what Microsoft has to say.)

Note that most "social networking sites" require you to "give permission" to the specific friends who are permitted to view and post to your "pages." To participate in a couple of the most popular, you must be in attendance at a "recognized school," and your school must confirm your attendance. Other specializations are popular(?).

This can be a tremendous problem for those who have no friends, (or can't remember who they are). Those of us who are just plain "shy" can also find it difficult to attract even others of similar "wallflower" inclination. (vertical planar surface enhancing personalites, for the PC).

The proposed new site, Wallop, offers to analyse your posts for content and style, and match you with "compatible" people.

The obvious difficulty, even for a few of our 'catters, is that like personalities may clash, especially if they're "aggressive" and too much alike.

But the obvious difficulties of matching compatible "slaves" and "masters," or "Spammers" with "Responders" (badly needed here?) seem something of a challenge, even for the most gifted of "Microserfs."

Perhaps suitable algorithms and matching criteria can be suggested by someone here?

For obvious reasons, suggesting appropriate "cat - to - cat" matches is probably not advisable.(?)

John

Subject: RE: BS: Cell Phone As Therapy
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 11:55 AM

" therapeutic stimulation of the various epidermal and subcutaneous areas of the wearer's body."

oh, VERY theraputic!...just not too 'various'. Coupled with phones that can download porn and interesting ring tones...like "Ravel's Bolero", it could usher in an entire new industry!

Subject: RE: BS: Cell Phone As Therapy
From: Metchosin
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 01:01 PM

Cell phones get very warm if you keep them on long enough too. Just think of the theraputic value of their deep heat to various epidermal and subcutaneous areas. Of course it may still be debated that holding a cell phone next to your brain for prolonged periods of time, may not be wise, let alone using it to "stimulate" other "tender" areas. LOL

Subject: RE: BS: Cell Phone As Therapy
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 01:06 PM

"Apparatus and method for preventing switching from a channel during an advertisement display"

right...they "never had the intention to force viewers to watch ads against their will"...they only had the intention to stop channel changing. You can always go the bathroom during commercials.

As you may have noticed, 'most' stations already time and plan commercials to run simultaneously, so that switching channels usually gets you only somone else's commercial. The Discovery Channel also own several others, and they usually run commercials within seconds of each other.

Local news programs start at 1 minute BEFORE the hour at 5 & 6 PM...and 1-2 minutes AFTER the hour at 10 & 11 PM to maximize the perceived tendency to stay with one station once they see its program start.

Even the program schedule is manipulated ...some nights the Discovery owned stations show multiple 'educational' programs like archeology, but on other nights it's all scary "end of the world" and "natural disaster" stuff....and still other nights you find mostly crime and prison fare....with commercials tailored to match.

...and have you ever wondered why so many sports events can manage to interrupt play at exactly the 'usual' commercial times? No wonder they don't like to show Soccer over here!

Subject: RE: BS: Cell Phone As Therapy
From: Amos
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 04:57 PM

My boyfriend on a battery,
Now he's the best of all,
He's really changed,
Found his range,
It makes a gal grow weak and fall
He never used to say much, making love,
But now,
Sometimes,
He'll call....


A

Subject: RE: BS: Cell Phone As Therapy
From: frogprince
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 06:29 PM

Now if Motorola can just find a way to keep you from turning your head or talking to someone else during commercials...

Subject: RE: BS: Cell Phone As Therapy
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 08:09 AM

I'm coming to the phone right now!
I'm coming to the phone right now!
La! La! lalalala!
I'm coming to the phone right now!



I'll get me coat....

Subject: RE: BS: Cell Phone As Therapy
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 06:27 PM

The Radio is currently playing the Golden Oldie

"Hold on, I'm comin'"

One could possibly use this as a ring tone?

Subject: RE: BS: Cell Phone As Therapy
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 11:28 PM

WARNING: THREAD DRIFT: NEW (additional) TOPIC:

Surf's Up—and Legal—on Company Time. eWeek, By Deborah Rothberg, April 25, 2006

Quote:

Cubicle-dwellers across the country rejoiced April 24 as an administrative law judge determined that an Education Department worker in New York City had been unfairly penalized after being axed for browsing news and travel Web sites on company time.

"It should be observed that the Internet has become the modern equivalent of a telephone or a daily newspaper, providing a combination of communication and information that most employees use as frequently in their personal lives as for their work," wrote Judge John Spooner in a statement.

Arguing that the same standard should be applied to Internet use as to other personal activities at work, Spooner argued that it only mattered that these idle pursuits do not affect job performance.

End Quote

Print it!

Show it to your boss?

Update your resumé?

John