The Mosquito
The Mosquito is an ultrasonic noise transmitter developed in Great Britain in 2005 , the aim of which is to use sound waves in high frequency ranges to drive away teenagers who are “loitering” .
In front of a bakery in Newport , South Wales , the device was tested for the first time, in some cases successfully, and used to drive away young people who had their meeting place there. It turned out, however, that some adults and (allegedly) even senior citizens could hear the unpleasant whistling sound. It was launched in 2006. Since 2007 these controversial devices have also been sold in Germany , Austria and Switzerland .
In contrast to noise weapons , which are used, among other things, on ships to fight pirates and whose high sound level above the pain threshold is intended to force you to leave the effective area immediately, The Mosquito works with a sound pressure of 104 decibels (manufacturer information 95 dB), which is below the pain threshold of 120 dB.
Mode of action
Since the human ear's ability to perceive high frequencies decreases with age, the tones are predominantly perceived by young people under the age of 25. The Mosquito operates at a frequency between 17 kHz and 18.5 kHz. Tests have shown that most people over the age of 25 are no longer able to hear frequencies of 18 kHz and above. This finding is supported by scientific and medical treatises on a phenomenon called presbycusis (old age hearing loss ).
The effect of the mosquito is less based on its frequency or volume. Its operating principle lies in the type of sound emitted, which those affected find very unpleasant. The Mosquito uses a modulated tone made up of a tone at around 17 kHz and a tone at around 18 kHz. There is a change between the two signals four times per second. Since it is not a constant, constant tone, the human brain cannot filter it out or get used to it. According to inventor Howard Stapleton, this is intended to induce those who listen in this area, especially young people, to avoid the PA area. (Comparison with animal harassment institutions).
According to the manufacturer, measured at a distance of one meter, the maximum level is 99 dBA. At a distance of 1 cm, the device achieves measured values of a maximum of 104 dB.
application
The small cube-like device is switched on by means of a switch, a timer or a motion detector. According to the manufacturer, this is intended to prevent the formation of groups of young people in noise-sensitive locations or passages that are critical to safety. In Germany and Switzerland, for example, mosquitos are mainly used to combat noise pollution from drunk young people.
Criticism of sound in public spaces
There is considerable criticism of this device, especially when it is used to provide sound in public spaces - as in Newport. So far there have been few studies of long-term health damage caused by the use of the device. The Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health announced in an expert report that "damage to the health of hearing cannot be completely ruled out". Disturbances of the sense of balance , dizziness and headaches are possible. The study commissioned by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Social Affairs also warns of possible hearing damage , as the maximum sound pressure level of the device is well above the manufacturer's specifications. Babies and toddlers in particular are at risk, as accompanying adults do not perceive the background noise. Some lawyers see signs of criminal assault .
In addition, the use is directed against children, adolescents and young adults in general, not just against those who "disturb". This is just a pretext to generally create zones that are free of young people and children. The Newport Community Safety Partnership (NCSP) asked an operator to turn off the device.
In the UK, government child protection commissioner Sir Albert Aynsley-Green criticized The Times : "These devices discriminate against all young people, including young children, whether they misbehave or not." Human rights group Liberty called the devices " sonic weapons " and asked : "What kind of society uses sonic weapons against their own children?" Furthermore, the use of the device could violate human rights, in particular Article 8 ( right to respect for private and family life ) and Articles, due to the lack of direction and the restriction to one age group 14 ( prohibition of discrimination ) of the European Convention on Human Rights .
In France, the court of Saint-Brieuc banned the use of the device, which is sold there under the name “Beethoven”, following complaints from the neighborhood and found that the device was an acoustic nuisance for everyone.
Other uses of the concept
In the USA , a manufacturer took up the principle in order to generate the mobile phone ringtone Teen Buzz , which is supposedly inaudible for adults . This development, also known as the mosquito ringtone , comes from the USA and consists of high-frequency tones (+ 17.4 kHz) that many adults cannot hear. For this reason, it is often used in places (for example at school) where cell phones are prohibited. The receipt of a text message can therefore go unnoticed by supervisors.
Awards
In 2006 the invention was honored with the Peace Ig Nobel Prize (see list ).
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Press release of the BAuA: Use of ultrasonic noise transmitters is not entirely harmless ( Memento from September 27, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
- ^ Spiegel Online: Here comes the tinnitus attack
- ↑ Telepolis: Acoustic weapon or harmless defense against teenagers?
- ^ France: Court forbids the use of Beethoven's defense against teenagers
- ↑ Improbable Research. In: improbable.com. Retrieved November 15, 2015 .