Wind-up chair charges your cell phone

Pega Design's Wind Up Chair shown at The Milan Design Week lets you charge your phone by winding a clockwork key on the back.

[via PSFK]

[VIDEO] Anthony Hopkins As Alfred Hitchcock Wants You To Turn Off Your Cell Phones

Coming Soon via 411Mania reports that Anthony Hopkins has filmed a new PSA as Alfred Hitchcock telling those in movie theaters to turn their cell phones off.

London Theater Employing Volunteer Ninjas to Confront Rude Texters

The Prince Charles Cinema in London’s Leicester Square is said to be employing volunteer “ninjas” to regulate good behavior among the audience. The term “ninja” is being used loosely here — they’re really more like glorified ushers in black skintight bodysuits — but whatever you want to call them, it’s certainly an interesting way to keep the peace. SlashFilm reports.

The so-called ninjas are ordinary cinephiles who agree to “guard” screenings in exchange for free admission. When they spot a patron talking, texting, throwing popcorn, kicking seats, or otherwise engaging in rude behavior, they swoop down to give the jerk in question a talking-to.

Read more.

Horrifying Anti-Theater Texting PSA Shown At Film4 FrightFest

Texting in the theater is a pet peeve of many, but a new PSA created for Film4 Frightfest 2012 in London, takes the message to stop texting and turn off your phone to a whole other disturbing level.

"Turn Off Your Bloody Phone" features an audience member whose plea to a female theater patron to stop texting during the film goes ignored. In retaliation, he proceeds to stab her in the back of the head with a pen, pull out her brains, unzips his pants and proceeds to do terrible, unmentionable things.

It's disgusting, it's shocking, but the message to turn off your phone is pretty clear.

[via The Huffington Post]

Restaurant offers discount to patrons who won’t use cell phones at tables

According to Silicon Republic, patrons of a Los Angeles, California restaurant are being offered a 5pc discount on their bills if they check their mobile phones at the door.

“We're trying to create an ambiance where you come in and really enjoy the experience and the food and the company.”

Eva Restaurant’s chef and owner Mark Gold added that nearly half his patrons have taken up the offer.

Ringing Cell Phone Halts Philharmonic Performance at Lincoln Center

The music director for the New York Philharmonic stopped a performance at Lincoln Center Tuesday night after a concert-goer allowed their cell phone to ring loudly. NY1 reports.

They say the ringing was so loud and non-stop that Gilbert stopped his orchestra and glared at the offender, who was sitting near the front of the theater.

People in the audience shouted out threats to have the culprit thrown out of the performance.

The owner of the cell phone never identified themselves.

Other embarrassing moments over cell phone disruption at concerts, theaters, or conferences.

Emily Post new edition tackles cell phones and social media

The latest and 19th edition of the Emily Post book on etiquette, subtitled “Manners for a New World,” addresses modern dilemmas related to new technology. FoxNews reports.

The Post family has dedicated no fewer than seven chapters of the 722-page tome to communication and technology.

With regard to cell phones:

-- Never interrupt a conversation to answer a call, email or text.

-- When in a suitable place to use a cellphone, watch your volume, tone and language.

-- The book frowns upon cellphone use in a place of worship, theater, or restaurant, or during a meeting or presentation.

-- What do you do when a call gets disconnected? According to Post, the person who initiated the call should redial the other person and apologize, even if it’s the phone carrier’s fault.

--Other phone faux pas include typing, eating, shuffling papers or doing anything that tells the caller your attention is elsewhere. And never, ever “call from the stall”.

Read more on how to behave on Facebook and with your e-mail.

Woman Thrown Out of Cinema for Texting Has Complaint Turned into Advert

A woman who was thrown out of the Alamo Drafthouse in Texas, USA after ignoring requests to stop sending text messages during the film, has had her expletive laden response turned into a Public Service Advert by the venue managers.

Click here for a bleeped out version of the message she left on the company's voicemail.

[via Cellular News]

Lady physcially removed from train for talking on cell phone in Amtrack quiet car and "Annoying Cell Phone Guy"

A woman has the Internet cheering her fate after she was escorted off an Amtrak train by the police this weekend. She allegedly refused to stop talking loudly on her cell-phone, according to Yahoo News.

ABC News, reporting on the incident on TV, included a segment on "Annoying Cell Phone Guy" from PleaseShutUp.com. He's featured in a series of videos where he talks VERY LOUDLY in public places on an oversized cell phone. Rude? Yes. Point well taken. Watch Annoying Cell Phone Guy on a Train - and in other situations.

Give thanks not thx on Thanksgiving

A pair of New York ad executives are asking families to “give thanks not thx” on Turkey Day and just turn off the cell phones. [via Lehigh Valley Parenting]

Mark DiMassimo and Eric Yaverbaum even will send free turkeys to select people who sign the pledge to go offline on Thanksgiving at Offlining a website they created to encourage people to take a break from electronics and reconnect with the family.

Experts have said that families who eat dinner together have better communication and stronger connections – but not if no one’s talking to each other.

Read full article.

32% of Gen Y Okay With Calling in Sick Via Text Message

According to a new survey by TextPlus, college kids and recent grads (18-24 years old) use text messaging (inapropriately) in the workplace to communicate:

-- 11% think it's appropriate to ask for a raise via text;

-- 32% say it's okay to "call in sick" to work via text and 22% have actually done it;

-- 11% think it's okay to quit a job via text.

[via College Recruiter]

Why are cellphones so annoying?

Ever wonder why overhearing a cellphone conversation is so annoying? American researchers think they have found the answer, reports stuff.

Whether it is the office, on a train or in a car, only half of the conversation is overheard which drains more attention and concentration than when overhearing two people talking, according to scientists at Cornell University.

Which shows you can do a study about just anything.

Sending a Message That You Don’t Care

Christine Pearson explains her research over more than a decade on text messaging and how it's damaging workplace relationships. In The New York Times.

Excerpts.

For more than a decade, my colleagues and I have gathered data on incivility from more than 9,000 managers and workers across the United States, and we’re continuing this work internationally. We have learned a great deal about the problem’s causes and consequences.

Electronic devices lead to more incivility because of their powerful ability to claim our attention — no matter where we are or what we’re doing.

... Through our devices, we find a way to disappear without leaving the room. By splitting ourselves off and reaching out electronically, we fill empty interpersonal space and ignite our senses. We can find relief and a fleeting sense of freedom.

Count how many times this happens each day, and you begin to understand the cumulative effect of electronic incivility in the workplace.

In my research, I’ve learned that when employees behave in an uncivil way, their colleagues may take retribution. They might withhold information — for example, by “forgetting” to include the offender’s name on a final product. Or they might see to it that he or she ends up with a less desirable task next time. Or they might even refuse to work with the person again.

Read full article. Image from Bow Tie's Law Blog.

Egypt launches code ethics for mobile phones

According to the BBC, Egypt's official telecoms regulatory body has launched a code of ethics for the use of mobile phones.

The 16-point guide includes advice about when to switch phones off and warns against annoying others with ringtones and loud conversations.

Hugh Jackman embarrasses audience member for letting phone ring

Joining a growing list of people publicly humiliated for letting their cell phones ring while in an audience, TMZ has posted a video of Hugh Jackman's reaction to the ringing of a phone while on stage with Daniel Craig in a performance of their play "A Steady Rain" Wednesday night in NYC.

Related:

-- Giuliani humiliates woman who's phone rang during speech

-- Stage Actor Richard Griffiths berates young man in audience for cell phone disturbance

-- Richard Griffiths Actor wins ovation as he stages attack on phone offender

-- President Obama Interrupted By 'Duck Ringtone' During Speech

Bad text messaging, e-mailing manners can be costly

One of the newer forms of poor office etiquette -- paying more attention to a hand-held device than to a conversation or business meeting -- happens so frequently that businesses are complaining it upsets workplaces, wastes time and costs money. Reuters reports.

A third of more than 5,000 respondents said they often check their e-mails during meetings, according to a March poll by Yahoo! HotJobs, an online jobs board.

Such habits have their price, said Tom Musbach, senior managing editor of Yahoo! HotJobs.

"Things like BlackBerries fragment our attention span, and that can lead to lost productivity and wasted dollars because people aren't focused on their work, absolutely," he said.

A call for draconian new laws in India for cell phone rudeness

A huge rise in mobile phone usage has stoked an unacceptable surge in public rudeness, and the most annoying offenders should be sent to prison, according to India's equivalent of the House of Lords reports The Times Online.

The country's 277 million mobile users “often create nuisance”, the Committee on Petitions, an influential panel of the Rajya Sabha, parliament's upper house, decreed. “They need to be educated where and how to use the device without annoying others,” it added, while endorsing a call for draconian new laws to do just that.

The comments came in response to a petition filed by Gurjit Singh, a member of the public whose demands include making carrying mobiles at funerals and temples illegal and the installation of mobile phone jammers on school buildings to stop students making calls.

Mr Singh also wants phone companies to deploy equipment to disable mobiles on the roads to avoid traffic accidents, and is calling for a law under which civil servants could be imprisoned if they make personal calls on their handsets during office hours.

His final demand is that mobile phones fitted with cameras be outlawed “for the safety of women”.

The measures may appear extreme but have already won significant backing, including from The Times of India, the country's most-read English language newspaper.

Read full article.

Shouting on Mobiles is Still Most Annoying Trait

According to a new survey, speaking too loudly on mobile phones remains the most irritating thing about people using them in public. Cellular News reports.

The easyMobile.com Modern Mobile Manners survey reveals that more than half of those questioned found loud talking more annoying than ringtones or even taking calls while at the dinner table.

Nearly two thirds of those researched ignored calls from people when they saw who it was that was calling – with more than 80% lying about it afterwards. And more than three quarters regularly answered calls while having a meal with friends and colleagues – despite 60% of those same individuals thinking this was a sign of bad manners.

Related: - Businesses putting lid on cellphone chatterboxes

Cell Phone Model Made of Meat

Spotted on Trendhunter among other gadgets, a cell phone replica made of meat. Really.

Mobile Phones Hazzardous to Haircuts?

Are mobile phones hazzardous to haircuts? One barber thinks so and had a special sign made up for his shop.

[via Blackberry Today]

UK Theme Park to Ban Smartphones

This is wild. UK theme park resort, Alton Towers is piloting a "PDA Free Zone" during the May school holiday, to encourage parents to disconnect from the office and reconnect fully with their families. Cellular News reports.

There's more. "PDA police will be onsite to enforce the ban and any adult caught using a PDA whilst at the Resort will be asked to report to one of five "PDA Drop Off Zones" where they can safely leave their smartphones for the day."

Vigilante etiquette justice over cellphone yapping in subway

The Village Voice reports on a lawsuit brought on following an incident in a subway where 60-year-old cop-turned-lawyer Clifford assaulted a 19-year-old student for talking on his cell phone.

The New York Post described the incident thusly:

Clifford waved his hand at the kid, snapped his fingers in the kid's face, and started cursing loudly, all agreed.

Clifford really blew a gasket - screaming "F- - -ing faggot!" - when the kid then suggested, comically, that Clifford himself not blow his nose and rustle his newspaper so loudly.

Clifford won his case, despite the judge's admonition that his vigilante style of etiquette justice is inappropriate (not to mention homophobic.)

This reminds me of a reverse incident that occured on a Japanese bus, when a young man observed that the middle-aged person in front of him was talking too loud on the mobile telephone. So he tapped the man's shoulder and asked him to keep the volume down. The man went bonkers. The video uploaded on YouTube has close to 2 million views.

'Manners police' hit Japan metros

Badly behaved commuters riding on Yokohama's public transport will soon be risking a dressing-down, reports the BBC.

"Newly appointed "etiquette police" or the Smile-Manner Squadron, will be asking travellers to turn down their headphones and give up their seats for their elders and betters.

The move comes amid growing concern that etiquette is losing its hallowed place in Japanese society.

This perceived lapse included failing to offer your seat to pregnant and elderly people, chatting loudly on mobile phones, applying make-up in public, and listening to music on "leaky" headphones.

A prime hang-out for violators was identified as Japan's jammed commuter trains.

... The mile-Manner team is mostly made up of over-60s, well acquainted with the standards of conduct associated with the "old Japan".

But many of these enforcers will be accompanied by younger bodyguards, should their etiquette advice - diplomatically given, of course - not prove welcome. "

President Sarkozy advised to watch his texting manners at Windsor

According to The First Post, French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been advised to behave in a more statesmanlike manner, starting with his visit to Windsor on March 26 as a guest of the Queen.

"No more Ray-Bans and jogging shorts, no more public kisses and cuddles with new wife Carla Bruni, and definitely no more texting on his mobile while in meetings with heads of state - all of these are high on the list of his advisors' new do's and don't's.

... Text-messaging has been one of his more shocking habits: he did it during an audience with Pope Benedict, and then again in a meeting with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. "It is embarrassing and extremely discourteous," said a French diplomat unused to such casual behaviour from the president."

Cell Phone Sign From Soho Café Window. Be Warned.

A sign in the window of a Soho café. Spotted on Smart Mobs via Blackbelt Jones.

Hush booths

Spotted on Jan Chipchase - Future Perfect, pictures of a mobile phone booth at the SAS lounge of the airport of Copenhagen, which conveys a "subtle reminder of the social norms for this space".

Device Lets You Report Noisy Audience Members

CBS reports that Regal Entertainment Group, which owns several Chicago area theaters, is offering a device to enable audience members to rat on those talking/texting on their cell phones, or filming the movie.

"Using a device the size of a cell phone, certain patrons will be able to push a button to alert the management to somebody else's rude behavior, or even a problem with the movie.

The device, called a “guest response system,” has four buttons corresponding to problems; one is to report piracy if you see someone recording a movie with a camera.

The devices are now in use at just over 100 locations nationwide and could be headed for Chicago in the near future."

Why subway cars in Japan are more quiet than in the US

Why subway cars in Japan are more quiet than in the US.

A screen capture from the video of Nokia's Younghee Jung presentation entitled “Insight and Innovation” at the 2007 New Yorker Conference.

[Updated] Ten commandments of cell phone etiquette

InfoWorld has updated their original 10 Cell Phone Commandments. Amusing and to the point.

1. Thou shalt not dial while driving

2. Thou shalt not wear thy earpiece when thou art not on thy phone

3. Thou shalt not speak louder on thy cell phone than thou would on any other phone

4. Thou shalt not grow too attached to thy cell phone

5. Thou shalt not slam thy cell phone down on a restaurant table just in case it rings

6. Thou shalt not make the cell phone more important than the company thou art keeping

7.Thou shalt not leave the cell phone ringing just to show off the "cool" ringtones or refrain from answering for that same reason

8.Thou shalt turn off thy cell phone at funerals, weddings, yoga class, and anywhere it would be unacceptable to bring a screaming child

9.Thou shalt not have a message intro lasting more than 15 seconds

10.Thou shalt never answer your phone while you're in the bathroom.

Norway Study. Rude mobile phone use

A new survey of Norwegian mobile phone habits reveals that many people have received sex messages via their cell phone and even more take photos of people without permission. Aftenposten reports.

"The survey of 1,900 persons - carried out by Perduco for operator NetCom last November - shows that the spread of personal and often sensitive content via mobile phones and the Internet is widespread, and unsurprisingly, younger phone users are most irresponsible.

Thirty one percent of those under the age of 30 interviewed said they have used their phone's camera to take pictures of people who were not aware of being photographed. Only 13 percent of the total group surveyed gave the same answer.

Nineteen percent of mobile phone users under the age of 30 have received text or multimedia messages with sexual content, compared to 13 percent for the survey group as a whole."