Wave Bubble

Limor Fried

Wave Bubble
In a high-population-density city, inhabitants must be prepared to defend their own personal space. Technologies that increase personal productivity are on the rise, even though they may intrude on others. The unavoidable reaction is to create technologies that counteract other people’s devices. Wave Bubble is a product that counters the all-too-familiar annoyance of loud ring tones and overt cell-phone conversations in public. This wearable device blocks all radio frequencies in the PCS/GSM cellular phone bands. By activating it, the user creates a bubble of low-reception in their personal space, which repels cell-phone users (or, if they choose, deactivates RFID tag readers or GPS tracking devices). When worn openly, the wearer makes the statement that they reject the intrusion of these technologies into his or her everyday life.

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