Shocking phones

Fed up with those annoying people talking too loudly into their mobiles on the train? This article could make you smile!

As part of an internal research project, the team designed five prototype ?social mobiles? which modify their users' behaviour to make it less disruptive.

For example, the first phone, called SoMo1, gives its user a mild electric shock, depending on how loudly the person at the other end is speaking. This encourages both parties to speak more quietly, otherwise the mild tingling becomes an unpleasant jolt. Such phones, the designers suggest archly, could be given to repeat offenders who persistently disturb people with intrusive phone conversations.

Story via Boing Boing.