Comments on A frequency audible only to English speakers and dogsTypePad2007-09-05T03:46:14ZDavid Bognerhttps://www.treppenwitz.com/tag:typepad.com,2003:https://www.treppenwitz.com/2007/09/a-frequency-aud/comments/atom.xml/Iris commented on 'A frequency audible only to English speakers and dogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503ee1d688332007-09-10T17:54:00Z2008-02-14T04:52:41ZIrisWe once visited my in-laws, and there was a high-pitched tone coming from their TV that was so bad I...<p>We once visited my in-laws, and there was a high-pitched tone coming from their TV that was so bad I went to sit in the living room. My husband came to ask why I was in there, and I asked if he couldn't hear it or what. He could not, and neither my mother-in-law nor my father-in-law reacted to it either. I think they all thought I was nuts - otoh, they probably thought that anyway.</p>
<p>Three days after we left, we got a phone call. Seems the power supply for the TV had finally fried itself and it was in the shop.</p>
<p>There is a similar story about the early days of computer monitors, where the secretaries would complain about the whine from the monitors, and the engineers they sent to investigate couldn't understand what they were talking about.</p>
<p>Have most of the adult males in Israel lost their high-frequency hearing due to their military service?</p>miss Worldwide commented on 'A frequency audible only to English speakers and dogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5505269e788342007-09-07T08:15:57Z2008-02-14T04:52:26Zmiss Worldwidehttp://missworldwide.blogspot.comha ha! I love the fact that you are still in touch with your inner child! It's so rare nowadays.<p>ha ha! I love the fact that you are still in touch with your inner child! It's so rare nowadays.</p>Bob commented on 'A frequency audible only to English speakers and dogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5505265c688342007-09-07T02:23:12Z2008-02-14T04:51:49ZBobhttp://lostfart.blogspot.com/Obviously there's a cultural difference at work here. Could it be that Westerners are simply more aware of when synthesized...<p>Obviously there's a cultural difference at work here. Could it be that Westerners are simply more aware of when synthesized noise is out of place, and thus recognize that as a signal of something amiss with an electronic device? Or perhaps Israelis focus more on people, and thus consider something wrong with a mere machine as less worrisome.</p>Alice commented on 'A frequency audible only to English speakers and dogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503edc8e88332007-09-06T19:14:49Z2008-02-14T04:51:55ZAliceI wonder how the bees would feel about it?<p>I wonder how the bees would feel about it?</p>psachya commented on 'A frequency audible only to English speakers and dogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503edc9488332007-09-06T14:59:02Z2008-02-14T04:51:55ZpsachyaFascinating. I wonder - is there any sort of counter-torture training in the Israeli army? Perhaps that might explain it...<p>Fascinating. I wonder - is there any sort of counter-torture training in the Israeli army? Perhaps that might explain it - although it wouldn't explain English-speakers who did army service. Very interesting. And hilarious - you continue to maintain your reputation as a practical joker par excellence. (Don't worry - I have my sources.) ;=)</p>a. commented on 'A frequency audible only to English speakers and dogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e550526c6488342007-09-06T12:14:43Z2008-02-14T04:52:51Za.Ilan, the Mosquito/TeenBuzz story is a weird one ... I am out of that age range for ten years, and...<p>Ilan, the Mosquito/TeenBuzz story is a weird one ... I am out of that age range for ten years, and I can hear the sound clearly (but then, I even hear some dog pipes and marten repellent systems installed in vehicles...).</p>a. commented on 'A frequency audible only to English speakers and dogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503ee0f788332007-09-06T11:56:32Z2008-02-14T04:52:35Za.The marketing officer in me awoke. This is good stuff for another advertising spot a la AG-7: "Americans invested millions...<p>The marketing officer in me awoke. This is good stuff for another advertising spot a la AG-7:<br />
"Americans invested millions into developing a high-standard device that would irritate declared opponents (fade in gadget). The Chinese simply went for this: (fade in a cicada in a matchbox)."<br />
</p>ilan commented on 'A frequency audible only to English speakers and dogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e550526a0388342007-09-06T11:53:46Z2008-02-14T04:52:27Zilanhttp://bitsofink.comDon't know if this is related, but there was a similar device created not too long ago, called the Mosquito,...<p>Don't know if this is related, but there was a similar device created not too long ago, called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mosquito" rel="nofollow">the Mosquito</a>, which emits a sound that can generally only be heard by people under 20 years old or so. Since our ability to hear certain frequencies degrades starting around 20 years old, the device was successful in preventing teenagers from loitering around a grocery store in Newport, South Wales, without significantly affect others. Perhaps there is something in the Israeli population that hastens or increases this hearing loss?</p>jennifer commented on 'A frequency audible only to English speakers and dogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e550526add88342007-09-06T09:07:22Z2008-02-14T04:52:35Zjenniferhttp://justjennifer.wordpress.com/Sorry, can't help. I have tinnitus and am thankful I don't ride in your carpool. It would be instant hamster...<p>Sorry, can't help. I have tinnitus and am thankful I don't ride in your carpool. It would be instant hamster in a blender time.</p>The Other Sarah B commented on 'A frequency audible only to English speakers and dogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e55052679f88342007-09-06T07:47:15Z2008-02-14T04:52:07ZThe Other Sarah Bhttp://chayyeisarah.blogspot.comI sent an email to an Israeli friend asking him if he can explain the results of your informal experiment....<p>I sent an email to an Israeli friend asking him if he can explain the results of your informal experiment. Hopefully he'll comment here or send me a response.</p>sarahb commented on 'A frequency audible only to English speakers and dogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503edc7e88332007-09-06T04:37:43Z2008-02-14T04:51:54Zsarahbhttp://www.sarahbsmile.blogspot.comDavid! Why did you have to go and buy a stupid toy to make an annoying chirping sound? You can...<p>David! Why did you have to go and buy a stupid toy to make an annoying chirping sound? You can do that on your own!! You MUST be bored! :) love</p>David commented on 'A frequency audible only to English speakers and dogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503ee0d588332007-09-05T22:45:34Z2008-02-14T04:52:33ZDavidhttp://www.almostaliyah.blogspot.comSO someone brought one of those to the ER... it became apparent that all the residents went nuts while the...<p>SO someone brought one of those to the ER... it became apparent that all the residents went nuts while the attending staff didnt seen to care.... we asked one of the ENT specialists who said that as you age you lose the ability to hear well at that frequency, so it bothers you less... obviously not 100% for everyone, but I was told thats the general principle</p>jaime commented on 'A frequency audible only to English speakers and dogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503edbaa88332007-09-05T22:07:46Z2008-02-14T04:51:46Zjaimehttp://www.sweetooth120.blogspot.comThat's hilarious. I'm a sucker for any type of noise. I seem to be extra sensitive - it's just lovely...<p>That's hilarious. </p>
<p>I'm a sucker for any type of noise. I seem to be extra sensitive - it's just lovely whenever I'm at a movie. I get totally sucked into the popcorn crunching, candy unwrapping, etc. I finally have to force myself to focus on the movie and not the sounds around me.</p>David S commented on 'A frequency audible only to English speakers and dogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503ee1d188332007-09-05T18:53:37Z2008-02-14T04:52:41ZDavid SWhy is it that the title of your post reads: "A frequency audible only to English speakers and dogs". I...<p>Why is it that the title of your post reads: "A frequency audible only to English speakers and dogs". I read that you tested the device with some Americans, Israelis and a British, so you assume that only English speaking people would react to the chirp. Is it because the chirp has an American or British accent? : ) </p>weese commented on 'A frequency audible only to English speakers and dogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503ee3b388332007-09-05T18:51:54Z2008-02-14T04:53:02Zweesehttp://weese.blogspot.comWe did the very same thing here at my office!! We were somewhat dismayed when we hid it in a...<p>We did the very same thing here at my office!!<br />
We were somewhat dismayed when we hid it in a fellows cube and for days got no rise out of him. He was oblivious.<br />
But... we struck gold when we put it in Kelli's cube!<br />
Kelli is 20 something cute and blond. And she heard it!<br />
She spent days trouble shooting - turning her monitor off, rebooting - she finally concluded it was her own 'runners' watch. This was mostly because we would 'sometimes' move the device into a room during a meeting. <br />
It was so much fun. Sadly one of the guys in on the prank started to get squemish when Kelli wanted to call the IT department to report the noise. (where as i will willing to get them in on the joke as well...)<br />
</p>Faye commented on 'A frequency audible only to English speakers and dogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503edcfc88332007-09-05T14:33:24Z2008-02-14T04:51:58ZFayehey David, Long time no read/comment. I am sorry I have been away so long. Your blog is, as ever,...<p>hey David,<br />
Long time no read/comment. I am sorry I have been away so long. Your blog is, as ever, highly amusing. I might have to get me one of those and see if my roommate notices. However, maybe not so close to Yom Tov, maybe I should wait til after to start getting "evil flatmate" points!</p>JDMDad commented on 'A frequency audible only to English speakers and dogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503edc7188332007-09-05T14:21:44Z2008-02-14T04:51:54ZJDMDadhttp://JDMDad.blogspot.comUgh!! Sounds downright annoying. Some of my kids (2 & 4) toys make little chirps when the batteries are dying....<p>Ugh!! Sounds downright annoying. Some of my kids (2 & 4) toys make little chirps when the batteries are dying. Add to that my wife and I are hard of hearing, and the kids don't really get the "We need to find what's making that noise" concept. One time it took over an hour to find whatever was making the noise. The second time the 4 year old's doll did this (batteries seemed to have about an 8 month life) I was tempted to take a hammer to it! Fortunately it was a singing dog. If it was Barney, the purple freak would be in the landfill already. ;-) <br />
</p>a. commented on 'A frequency audible only to English speakers and dogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e55052666d88342007-09-05T10:08:58Z2008-02-14T04:51:56Za.http://profile.typekey.com/mademoisellea/Hmmm...I have an exception to state your cultural thesis. We have battery driven smoke detectors plastered all over the house,...<p>Hmmm...I have an exception to state your cultural thesis.</p>
<p>We have battery driven smoke detectors plastered all over the house, which naturally come to an end every now and then and demand a battery exchange by high-pitch beeps once every two-or-so minutes...which doesn't bother me at all, but the only Sabra around.</p>matlabfreak commented on 'A frequency audible only to English speakers and dogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e55052693e88342007-09-05T09:52:32Z2008-02-14T04:52:21Zmatlabfreakhttp://matlabfreak.blogspot.comHmm. If further controlled studies seem to substantiate this, it would be very interesting. Odd.<p>Hmm. If further controlled studies seem to substantiate this, it would be <em>very</em> interesting. Odd.</p>mother in israel commented on 'A frequency audible only to English speakers and dogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e55052666e88342007-09-05T09:19:40Z2008-02-14T04:51:56Zmother in israelhttp://mominisrael.blogspot.comI'd be interested to test your theory on my kids, who were born and raised here to American parents.<p>I'd be interested to test your theory on my kids, who were born and raised here to American parents.</p>Jack commented on 'A frequency audible only to English speakers and dogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e55052658988342007-09-05T07:23:34Z2008-02-14T04:51:45ZJackhttp://wwwjackbenimble.blogspot.com/It seems to me that in an earlier post I had a short discussion about gadgets and the baseball masochist....<p>It seems to me that in an earlier post I had a short discussion about gadgets and the baseball masochist. Hmmm....Wonder who that could have been.</p>Rami commented on 'A frequency audible only to English speakers and dogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503ee42788332007-09-05T07:06:02Z2008-02-14T04:53:06ZRamiEver wondered why terror suspects appear in court without any bruises from interrogation rooms, yet they signed numerous detailed testimonies...<p>Ever wondered why terror suspects appear in court without any bruises from interrogation rooms, yet they signed numerous detailed testimonies of hideouts and accomplice activities? Yes. That small gadget combined with tiny drops of water to the head in isolation for 5 days. :-) </p>Erica commented on 'A frequency audible only to English speakers and dogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503ee28e88332007-09-05T04:21:52Z2008-02-14T04:52:50ZEricahttp://ericasherman.blogspot.comI don't have an answer for your question, but...BUT...I did see a very similar device [advertised as a joke on...<p>I don't have an answer for your question, but...BUT...I did see a very similar device [advertised as a joke on YouTube] that emits various pitched and multiple frequency fart sounds, and is small enough to fit in one's pocket. Dave, I nearly popped a 'roid from laughing so hard. Your device did bring to mind, however, the handful of times in my life I had a nose whistle and searched high and low trying to figure out what the whistling sound was, only to trace the mysterious screech back to my own proboscis.</p>