Technology Is Being Turned Against You!

Almost two years ago, I wrote a post about a new device called the Mosquito. Believe it or not, it's a gizmo that was specially designed to produce sounds that only young people can hear. Back then, some were concerned that teens might use the technology to their advantage by smuggling cell phones into their classrooms.

But now the Mosquito has been adopted by the forces of evil! (Or just cranky older people.) Shopping centers in Britain are using the device to keep gangs of teenagers from congregating. They've programmed the Mosquito to emit "an irritating but harmless high-pitched ringing sound at a frequency which is audible to children and teenagers, but which most people lose the ability to hear in their early 20s."

It's a Reverse Pied Piper for teens!

Granted, I wouldn't want to spend too much time around the guys shown in this article. (Particularly the one making the charming hand gesture.) But the Mosquito doesn't just annoy jerks. It can be heard by ANYONE under the age of 20.

Now that doesn't seem fair, does it?

Illustration by Damien Mason.