Using buzz to deter youth attention

No, not that kind of buzz — Welshman Howard Stapleton (who happens to bear a striking resemblance to what could only be the lovechild of Kevin Bacon and David Bowie) claims to have built every 7-11 clerk's dream device: dubbed the Mosquito, it supposedly emits a high-frequency pulsing noise that can supposedly only be heard by most people younger than 20 (and by nary a person older than 30). If true, this would be effective at keeping at bay all those pesky wayward kids, the ones always hanging out outside convenience stores the world over, panhandling or bumming cigarettes or asking you to buy 'em a beer or something. We remain skeptical of such a perfect teen-off device (or its averse affects on the right kind of teens who need to, say, buy some gas or cheetos), but it may yet be necessary for us to keep one handy for the teeming hordes of adoring, impressionable youth that mob us when we walk the streets of New York.

[gavin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

Reminds me of the green streetlights that were supposed to make acne especially noticeable in the hopes that teens would stay home at night rather than try to hook up with another zit-faced teen.

[Gary @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

Teens won't be the only ones to hear this. I'll be 43 next week and I still can't wait for the day when I can no longer hear the squeal of a CRT (typically 15.75 KHz). The rise of the LCD/Plasma screen has helped save my sanity.

[bowlhed @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

i remember thiking of this device when i was learning about hearing ranges in physics classes at school

is it too late to claim a copyright?!

[Jammie @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

I guess so, because my technology and design teacher had the same idea, but he was refused copyright. I saw that on Newsround the other day, and the had a test, but despite the claim that only people under 20 can hear it quite a few people over 20 can hear it too.

It was actually quite annoying watching the report as they had the mosquito turned on and I could hear it whining away.

I don't think it will deter teenagers, they'll just listen to their MP3 players or wear earplugs or something, until someon finds out the frequency it emmits, then it can be blocked. My guess is somewhere between 18-20Khz

[PDubNYC @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

I see some Ed Begley jr. in there.

I'd like a portable version of thise thing. especailly at my favorite bars, assuming it works a little bit on 20-22 year olds. no offense, half joking.

[Josh @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

What you want is a patent, not a copyright.

[Tyler @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

Yes, definitely a hint of EBJ.

[karmaghost @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

I'm not saying you shouldn't try to keep loiterers away, but this device is just plain stupid.

[Ed Shull @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

It's amazing the lengths they will go to stop Jay and Silent Bob.

I'm pretty sure they are over 30

[Phil @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

The 7-11 where I lived solved the teen hang-out problem by playing Lawrence Welk albums over a loudspeaker outside the store. I assume they paid their royalty. :->

[Nobuyuki Idei @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

With just a hint of Vanilla Ice.

[krylon @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

Christ, is there anyone else who thinks this is stupid? Overly loud classical music was dumb enough, now you're going to force every customer with average hearing to walk through a wall of irritating buzz?

Lets see, our choices are:
1. telling the kids to leave, or better yet, asking the city to enact stricter no-loitering laws
2. making your customers ears bleed

[dweebe @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

I got a question. If you guys know so much about women, how come you're here at like the Gas 'n' Sip on a Saturday night completely alone drinking beers with no women anywhere?

By choice, man.

[Martin Newham @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

Ok, I think I see a problem - won't most "kids" be listening to ipods or similar which I guess drowns out any buzz??

[DarkFader @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

Hmm... better idea is to use morse code during classes. Oh no.. that would reduce concentration.

[Glenn @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

I once read of a convenience store that played classical music on its outside speakers to solve its teen loitering problem.

[wormeyman @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

The mall nearby has loud speakers saying "welcome to _____ mall, you parked in the south parking lot thank you for coming and have a nice day" fixed the loitering problems pretty fast as you have to walk away to have a good conversation.

[mike @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

hahahah it scares off the demographic that has no money?

[John Doe. @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

Yah I can heard our old CRT turned on with no signal from downstairs in our house and I'm 29. I think someone is full of crap.

[Andrew B @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

Having a police officer drive through the parking lot every hour or so tends to make people uncomfortable enough that most of the rabble-rousers leave on their own. Cops are usually there anyway for Slurpies and coffee.

[Nobuyuki Idei @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

You mean donuts and coffee, right?

[Samuel Lago @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

I hope this is the real-deal, advertisements in the lesser papers, here in the UK, have had to be retracted after claims of such abilities were proved false.

[sojo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

I saw something about this in the movies before. The trick is to catch one (of the loiters), do a pretty good hack job, and leave the various pieces dangling from a high spot. You might also want to consider letting a hungry dog go at the remains first before you string them up, that seems to have a significant impact.

[sojo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

I saw something about this in the movies before. The trick is to catch one (of the loiters), do a pretty good hack job, and leave the various pieces dangling from a high spot. You might also want to consider letting a hungry dog go at the remains first before you string them up, that seems to have a significant impact.

[acidreflux @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

Throw a little Sting in the mix, and that is one celebrity hybrid.

[Slipstream @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

I'll have to get one for Xbox Live

[Gary @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

I have to agree with the 'this is stupid' crowd. I am in my 30's and I can still here these high pitched sounds better than most people I know who are under 20.

[Dan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:56AM]

I'm taking grad classes at a fairly large state institution who has a campus downtown. At this campus, there is a parking garage in which the designer placed numerous devices that are presumably intended to keep birds away. I was 23, and the first time I walked into this garage with my 29 year old friend, I nearly doubled over in pain from the piercing sound emitted by the little electronic minions of Satan that are attached to the ceiling. My friend could hear nothing. It's been a year since that experience, and I tried parking in the garage just last week -- same experience. I had forgotten about the noisemakers, but the second I got out of my car, I was greeted by a gut wrenching noise. Needless to say, I will *NOT* be visiting any shop that installs a similar device.