From an article in Monday’s New York Times:
In that old battle of the wills between young people and their keepers, the young have found a new weapon that could change the balance of power on the cellphone front: a ring tone that many adults cannot hear.
In settings where cellphone use is forbidden — in class, for example — it is perfect for signaling the arrival of a text message without being detected by an elder of the species.
“When I heard about it I didn’t believe it at first,” said Donna Lewis, a technology teacher at the Trinity School in Manhattan. “But one of the kids gave me a copy, and I sent it to a colleague. She played it for her first graders. All of them could hear it, and neither she nor I could.”
The Times has the sound file. Can you hear it?
I could hear it…it is a very high pitched continuous note. Almost like fingernails on a chalk board.
I could also hear it. A bit painful but not because it’s loud, but rather because its so high pitched. For reference I’m 30 yrs old.
Jill reports that 5-year-ol Mack said he could hear it and she could hear the beginning and end of it. Two-year-old Aidan didn’t want to.
NewMexiKen cannot hear it and thinks you are all in on a big practical joke (that also involves The New York Times).
I heard buzzing, but sometimes I hear buzzing without really trying.