Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Oh, shaddup, will ya?
|
Just when you're in a state of intense emotional catharsis, watching that movie, comes that ghastly ring tone of the cellphone, sending you crashing to earth. Finally someone is doing something about it, reports BHUMIKA K.
|
Shhhhhh... : Kindly turn off your cell phones
WE THOUGHT this happened only in India. Shah Rukh Khan is getting all senti in a movie, you're sobbing along with him, and suddenly, that "Dhoom macha de... " tune ringing its head off on someone's mobile in the dark cinema sends you crashing to earth. And amidst irritated shhhhs and "Switch off!" calls and abusive hoots in the darkness, the cretin will actually pick up the cell and say (loudly): "Hello, main cinema dekh raha hoon... "
But apparently, mobile misbehaviour is a worldwide phenomenon and one that is catching on fast. The "polyphonic din" is getting worse by the day. All public functions in India usually began with a prayer. Now they begin with a plea: "We request you to please turn off your mobiles." Hoping that some day, mobile etiquette will actually be learnt.
Jammers going global
And like all problems, this one too comes with a solution. Little book-sized devices called cell jammers may be as ubiquitous as cells some day. The jammers emit low-level radio frequencies that thwart mobile phone signals within a pre-set radius, making a cell out of network reach for the cell-user. Airports and hospitals are known to install jammers as mobile use can interfere with the electronic equipment in these places. The most successful range of jammers are manufactured in Israel, the U.S. and the U.K. and cost around Rs. 2 lakh each or more.
To shut 'em up
Theatres and concert halls in Tokyo have gone in for licensed jammers to shut people up. And Mexico's churches want people to be in touch with God, and only God, during the mass. So cell phone jammers are apparently tucked away behind paintings of the Madonna.
Why go so far off?
Look at India. The Indian Parliament House installed jammers after stubborn politicians refused to switch off their cells during Parliamentary sessions. Apparently, the last straw was when President K.R. Narayanan's address to a joint session of parliament was interrupted by ringing cellphones at least six times. Delhi's heritage monuments and silent zones like Raj Ghat and have jammers in place.
Good manners, basic etiquette and respect for sacred spaces have come down, with the urge to be on the move and in touch every minute. So much so that Naseeruddin Shah's theatre production house Motley Productions has a dramatic beginning to every play where actors come on stage to mockingly show `How to switch off your mobile'. Despite that, if someone's phone dares ring during a play, the actors just freeze on stage!
Of course, in a technologically advanced world where bombs can be triggered on mobiles, security is a major concern driving law-enforcing agencies to install jammers in politically sensitive and crucial locations. In Bangalore, as in other parts of India, VVIP visits can be quite traumatic. While traffic is blocked anyway, cellphones too are, though for a brief period, when the convoy passes s through the city roads. Police personnel of the VVIP security division of the city's police say: "The convoys of VVIPs who are at high risk, like Prime Minister, President, national party leaders have jammers of various radius, sometimes around 10 kilometre radius."
Stopping hanky-panky
India does not seem to have any rules or restrictions in place for private installation of jammers. While Tokyo had a similar system earlier, it got chaotic and new regulations were brought in place for private property owners.
The Bangalore Central Jail at Parappana Agrahara installed jammers in 2002 when Abdul Karim Telgi, the main accused in the stamp-paper racket, was suspected of conducting his `business' from jail. Since this was of a limited range, jail authorities are in the process of installing a new electronic jammer, with a Rs. 26 lakh grant from the Central Government.
Revenue loss
Loss in revenue is another big factor driving large hotels in the U.S. to install jammers. This, they hope will prompt customers to pick up the in-house telephones, bringing back the revenue that cellphones had cut from their income.
While people often curse the coverage area, bad architecture and bad network when phones don't work near hotels, the culprit in fact, may be a jammer. Some pubs and hotels in Bangalore too are said to have installed jammers, but there's no one confirming it.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
|
