evatt.com

Microsoft has applied for a patent for what they call a “device
manners policy” (DMP). This wireless zone-enforced protocol would allow someone to remotely turn devices features (or devices) on or off based on specified policy.

Their logic, if you can't enforce good manners on people, enforce it on their electronics.

Besides the obvious application for shutting down phones at
theaters, such a policy could be used to enforce no audio or video
recording rules at concerts, etc., etc.

The better answer would be for the theaters to just kick people out
(without refunds) who use their phones during a movie. But they don’t
have the nerve to do this.

Some problems with this type of technology are:

o) What type of range does it have? 20 feet outside the theater? 50
feet outside the theater? Will it interfere with a neighboring
business?

o) What happens if my battery dies after been disabled? Are there
any routes that would prevent a disabled phone from being reenabled?

o) Is this only for incoming calls? If someone is having a heart
attack (happens), will we have find a pay phone (very hard to find) or
run 50 feet outside the theater to call for help?

o) Once the protocol is established, what is to prevent a malicious person from jamming devices where they are allowed?

I hate when society punishes responsible people for the sake of catching all the irresponsible people in one net.