Wallpaper to silence cell phones

Doublezero8

At the moment the only other way i know of doing this is using certain frequencies to block the signal but this is Illegal as these frequencies require a license to operate.

London, July 25. (Observer News Service): The irritating sound of a cell phone ringing during a tense moment, say on Centre Court, may soon be a thing of the past.

This appealing change will be the result of a technology that enables entire rooms to be sealed off from mobile phone signals, ensuring that they will never disturb the peace again.

The phone slayer, however, will be a model of discretion and blend into the background: in fact just the humble wallpaper.

British scientists have found a way to mass-produce frequency-selective "wallpaper" screens (FSS) on a large scale for the first time.

The screens are metal grids designed in an intricate pattern which filter out some radio signals and allow others through, depending on their wavelength. They can be fitted to walls and covered with real wallpaper.

Breakthrough by QinetiQ

The breakthrough was made by QinetiQ, which was part of the British Ministry of Defence before it was privatised and which believes the special wallpaper could benefit airports, hospitals, schools and any building requiring a "quiet zone".

A technology which has its origins in stealth aircraft and boats could even become an ingredient of home decorating. But, according to QinetiQ, it could also have a more serious role in the fight against terrorism.

"Phones can not only be disruptive but on occasions pose a real security threat as they could be used to set off a device," said Michael Burns, director of aviation markets at QinetiQ.

"The wallpaper allows certain wavelengths to pass through them while preventing others, so mobile phone or WiFi signals are effectively blocked out but two-way radio and other similar systems are totally unaffected."

More practical now

He continued: "Until now it's only been practical to manufacture small areas of frequency selective screens, so they have been predominantly used as the protective screening for microwave oven doors or used in various radar applications. With our process, it's now both practical and economic to produce large sheets of the material."

Typical areas that could be screened within an airport include the arrival halls or explosive containment areas, where suspicious packages are held awaiting investigation, could also be protected using FSS so a mobile phone could not be used to trigger a device.

The wallpaper is produced by printing the grid pattern on to the surface to be screened.

Metal is then "grown" in the desired pattern when the wallpaper is immersed in a chemical bath. Only one potential problem remains: how to stop signals rushing in when someone opens a door.

COPYRIGHT: GUARDIAN NEWSPAPERS LIMITED 2004

alleepally

Doesn't the Savoy cinema have some sort of mobile phone signal blocking thing installed already. wonder what it is

BigEejit

alleepally wrote:

Doesn't the Savoy cinema have some sort of mobile phone signal blocking thing installed already. wonder what it is

I read a good while ago of a device that just floods the mobile phone spectrum with noise and that stops them from operating .... but it is not powerful and so is very good to stop phones going off in a cinema but not outside it ..... of course it is unusable in hospitals etc....

hostyle

alleepally wrote:

Doesn't the Savoy cinema have some sort of mobile phone signal blocking thing installed already. wonder what it is

A really old thick wall?

Ciaran500

For legal reasons they were forced to remove that.