A group of clever teens have taken a sound developed by a British Lab designed to annoy only young hearer and have adapted it as a ringtone that adults can’t hear.
The sound behind this is a tone that falls into the upper range of human hearing, that is supposed to be outside the hearing of anyone over the age of 18, because most people lose the ability to hear in the upper ranges as they age. The sound is in the 17 Khz range while people in my age bracket, 30-39, are supposed to top out at 14. However, both Melanie and I can hear it just fine. I guess I didn’t ruin my hearing using headphones after all.
The point is supposed to be that kids can hear the tone when they get a new text message while in class and the teacher won’t hear it. Hmm, it wouldn’t work on me or on Melanie although I have to say that in a noisy environment or more than a few feet away maybe I wouldn’t hear it.
Anyone else have hearing that’s better than it should be?
Technorati Tags:aging, cell phones, technology, youth
I wonder if musicians would be less disposed to hearing it because of all the loud music they’re exposed to.
I am barely over the age of 18 and can still hear it.
I’m almost 50 and I can hear it…..but only just…..
My experience is the same as Keith’s.
I’m 40.
I can’t even hear my beeper that I carry around with me. I now keep it oon vibrator.
Deaf people under the age of 18 can’t hear it.
I played in Rock Bands for years, and at 47, I can hear it!
There is a site that has each component frequency, 14, 16, 18 20 khz, etc..so you can test yourself, I’ll have to fins the link.
I get lost around 18, with the pure tone.
I can hear the ringtone because of the variability among the frequencies.
http://www.fork.com/ringtones.php
My 18 and 11 y/o daughters clapped their hands over their ears when they heard it. I can hear it too, but apparently not as acutely.