Unhearable Ringtones
Friday, December 29th, 2006Sony Pictures is selling a high-pitched ringtone that only the young can hear as a way to promote The Messengers — the film about a teen who hears voices that her parents can’t.
The ultrasonic technology, originally developed in Europe by a security company (and dubbed the ‘Mosquito’ because the sound resembles that of a buzzing insect) to chase loitering teens away from malls, has been promoted the last several months as an adult-proof ringtone inaudible to people over 25.
Used mainly by teens in places where cellphone use is forbidden (like in class), the high pitched tone capitalizes on the phenomenon that adults lose some of their high-frequency hearing as they enter early middle age.
When I played the ringtone it drove my kids and dog nuts, but all I heard was a slight buzz and had a weird pressure sensation in my ears. I certainly can’t hear the obviously annoying tone, but…early middle age??? Screw that, I prefer to chalk it up to too many concerts and loud music over the years.
How’s your high frequency hearing? Listen for yourself.