New TV zapper will turn off any TV

Can you imagine social consequences if this thing catches on

[lgn1]

[cnn.com ]

Im waiting for the first TV zapper induce death, as a result of a TV being turned off in a sports bar during the world series.

[Macguru]

You think they will make one for people too?

[EliteWeb]

Saw this, i didnt like the design of the hardware much. I remember my remote control watch and the fun i had a school... :P memories...

[pmac]

God help us all.

[Conard]

I saw one of these gadgets in action at a Best Buy last night. All of a sudden all 150 sets went black and there was silence.
They didn't find the guy with the remote.

[AWildman]

Can you imagine people who have a beef with their neighbor about the noise their tv makes? "Turn that blat down or I'll turn it off!"

[Essex_boy]

Conrad: I wish Id have there!

[Chndru]

neat. i gotta get one.

ugh.. they are sold out

[Macguru]

>>Can you imagine social consequences if this thing catches on

I hope this thing catches on big time. Time to counter the social consequences of TV someway. Way too much trash getting in people's minds trought it IMHO.

I dont count much on this gizmo to 'change the world' already. The 'system' will soon come up with some 128 bits encrypted remote control the prevent the holly TV set to unexpectedly quit right in the middle of his sermon.

People who cannot afford the "anti-terrorist-128-bits-encrypted-remote-control-as-seen-on-TV" will simply put a strip of electric tape somewhere on the TV and finally lift their butts from the couch if they want to switch channel.

[whoisgregg]

They didn't find the guy with the remote.

You mean they actually looked for the person?

"Everybody empty your pockets right now! Present any remote controls for inspection!" lol

[grelmar]

Aparently, since the Wired article on it on Monday(ish), they've been having production and distribution problems - they can't make them and distribute them fast enough to meet deman.

Sweet. A public TV-free world is a good thing.

[Conard]

It's an infrared remote so you have to have line of site with the TV and be with in the range of the sensor.
So neighbors shutting down your set would have to be able to see your set, close the curtains and crank it up:)

[Freedom]

If your're a bar owner, just put a piece of electric tape over the infrared sensor on the tv.

[Macro]

I don't know what the fuss is about. I've had one of these for over a year now.

[Macguru]

>>I've had one of these for over a year now.

Heheh!

Can we *PLEASE* know :

• why you purchased it,
  
• how many times you used it,
  
• and in wich context?
  

[Leosghost]

Why do North Americans get all the cool gadgets..'taint fair :(

[mattglet]

My hometown's cable company once supplied remote controls that worked on every cable box in town. Oh the fun we had... sneak up to someone's house, and turn off their TV on them. We mostly did it to friends, but I will admit, we did it to complete strangers too.

[Macro]

>> Can we *PLEASE* know

My wife has these friends who are a lovely couple ... with the most awful children. Whenever we go there for dinner the children always had the TV blasting in the living room giving me a headache and making everyone have to shout. Strangely their TV sometimes just stops working for a few hours. They think I'm "jinxed". I've convinced the kids that I've got a "magnetic personality" ;)

It costed £5.00 and it was one of the few very worthwhile investments I made. Now with all this publicity... hmm, I may lose my magnetic personality cover.

Leosghost, sticky me if you want one that desperately. I got it in an Innovation/Maplins/ that sort of catalogue. I can try and dig the original receipt out if you really want one that badly.

[mivox]

>>Can you imagine social consequences if this thing catches on

Yeah.....

........It's a beautiful thought, isn't it? ;)

I heard about it on NPR while driving home, and when I got home their website had caved in under all the traffic from Wired and NPR. :(

[greenleaves]

I think it is a wonderfull invention, and the second they re-stock I will be the first to be waiting to buy one, credit card in hand...

[graywolf]

Ok maybe I'm daft but what gives someone else the right to turn off my TV? Yes I can appreciate the sophmoric prank appeal of the device, but where does it end? A device that changes the radio station in the car next to you, a special light bulb that renders the ink in kids comic books invisible, or maybe an "internet security" program that strips out advertising banners or affiliate links?

[Macguru]

>>what gives someone else the right to turn off my TV?

Nothing, but since it's not illegal for someone else to turn off your TV, enjoy Freedom. :)

[grandpa]

Brilliant. Now if he would add a 5 minute timer...

Just park it in the bar, leave, and come back the next day to tales of the haunted TV :)

[vkaryl]

....an "internet security" program that strips out advertising banners or affiliate links....

Oooohhhhh! Someone make me one quick!

[deejay]

Oooohhhhh! Someone make me one quick!

It's called Nortons.

[vkaryl]

deejay....

Don't have any use for Norton of any sort. I use AVG plus another bunch of things....

I just want ONE point and click thingie that works and isn't invasive. Norton is NOT it.

[Macguru]

>>Brilliant. Now if he would add a 5 minute timer...

I wish for a 500 years timer, after it begins to work. ;)

[vkaryl]

"BRILLIANT" Now if we can just get the Guinnesss ad bros to work on this....

[Marcia]

>>Guinness

Guinness Stout?

[createErrorMsg]

A universal TV remote I can't use. A universal car stereo remote I would pay through the nose for. Someone rolls up next to you with their music blaring (hip-hop and heavy metal being the two most obnoxious offenders), you just point through the window and turn it up until their speakers blow. >)