Teen Buzz (or Mosquito Ringtone) is a popular ringtone that was hijacked from a technology that was originally used to repel loitering teenagers from shops in the United Kingdom. Inventor Howard Stapleton developed the "Mosquito device" for Compound Security Systems. This device emits a modulated 17 kHz sound that proves to be a great annoyance to teenagers or anyone younger, but leaves most over thirty years of age unaffected. This is due to presbycusis, a normal loss of acute hearing that occurs with advancing age. Teen Buzz was developed using the same technology, but as a constant 17 kHz high frequency ringtone. It is primarily used in the classroom, allowing students to be alerted of incoming text messages on their mobile phones without the knowledge of their teachers. The company that developed the device said that they were impressed and admits to the idea being humorous, although they considered it may be an infringement on their intellectual property rights. They developed their own ringtone which they sold as the authentic mosquito tone.[1]
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Presbycusis
The principle behind Teen Buzz is a biological reality that audiologists can refer to as presbycusis, or aging ear. Starting at around age 20, scientists say, the human ear loses its ability to hear tones in the highest human-range frequencies (18-20 kHz), and as one ages, it becomes more difficult to detect these sounds.
The Mosquito
The Mosquito device is manufactured by the British company Compound Security. Once installed on a building, emits a high-pitched sound (at 17 kilohertz), similar to a constant insect buzzing. The product is based on the idea that, as people age, they are less able to hear high-frequency sounds, making this particular sound annoying only to youths. This sound, beamed at kids congregating in a section of the mall, would encourage them to move on, the theory goes, therefore preventing unwanted gatherings of youths and teenagers in shopping malls and around shops or chasing them away. Mosquito devices have been sold around the world since its launch in 2005. Police forces and small business have praised the Mosquito device and say it has improved business and community trouble spots. It has since been welcomed by many as "an important step forward in crime prevention" and criticized by others "as an attack to the human rights and the health of those affected."[attribution needed]
Teen Buzz
The Teen Buzz Ringtone (also known as Mosquitotone or Zumbitone) is a cell phone ringtone that is too high-pitched for most adults to hear. In settings where cellphone use is forbidden, such as a classroom, it can be used to signal the arrival of a text message without being audible to an adult.
Ability
As more people report via online forums their ability — or lack of ability — to hear the well-known ringtone, it is becoming every day more evident that people are not alike. Although it is clear that the chances of hearing the sound perfectly decrease markedly with aging, there are many reports of people as old as 50 who allegedly hear the sound of the ringtone as clearly as their younger counterparts.
References
External links
- "NY Times", hear the sound.
- "Pupils perform 'alarming' feat", METRO.co.uk, 24 May 2006 (news article)
