Would you believe that there is a cell phone ringtone that adult cannot hear? Yup! It's the mosquito ringtone. So-called because it is derived from Inventor Howard Stapleton's “mosquito device” which is used to discourage teens from loitering in shops in the UK.
This device produces a 17kHz sound which only teenagers can hear. This is intended to irritate them enough to force them to leave. Adults over thirty years old are not affected by the sound because of the condition called presbycusis or loss of acute hearing due to aging.
The device was tested in Newport, South Wales. It was reported to be successful in deterring students from loitering. A word of caution though, some adults and seniors with highly developed auditory senses were still able to hear the Mosquito.
Short exposure to this device does not cause any effect except for those who can hear it since it certainly can be annoying if played at prolonged time. It is safe and effective.
The times have changed though. What used to be a device formerly against students is now utilized in their favor. With the popularity of mobile phones, teens sometimes find the ringing to alert text messages to be disruptive even embarrassing in a formal setting particularly in the classroom or church. Parents, teachers and other authority figures frown at this seeming discourtesy. The mosquito ringtone provides a happy, if not humorous solution, to this dilemma.
Students often use this ringtone in the classrooms mainly to alert them of text messages in their mobile phones without the knowledge the teacher. Some use this to escape their parents' notice. This may sound cunning and misleading but the mosquito ringtone has garnered some degree of success for teens, hence, its popularity.
Wanna try the Mosquito Ringtone? Here is the link to this "soundless" tone which only teens can hear.
