Motorola has patented a system that allows a cell phone to set off electrodes on a stimulator pad, alerting users of incoming calls.

According to the patent application, current cell phones have tried to silently notify a wearer through a vibrating alert, but often times are still unintentionally distracting to others. The vibration produces an audible sound, especially when the wireless device is left on a surface such as a table top, easily detected in quiet environments such as business meetings.

The stimulator pad invention attempts to solve the problem by using electric pulses to notify users. When the wearer receives an incoming call, message, or data delivery, an electric potential is placed across the electrodes and physically stimulates the body, such as areas of the epidermis and underlying muscles, alerting the wearer of the incoming call in a completely silent manner.

Power levels, frequencies, and duty cycles can be adjusted delivering even patterned signals to notify the wearer who is calling, or what data is being received by the wireless device.

The application also claims the wireless device can be used to deliver muscle stimulation, known to have therapeutic effects.

"The stimulator pads of the present invention can, in addition to the uses stated above for notification, be used for therapeutic stimulation of the various epidermal and subcutaneous areas of the wearer's body. The stimulus patterns can be manually programmed into the device by the user, selected from a programmed list of patterns in the device or, alternatively, can be downloaded to the device from, for example, a doctor's website or in-office computer by a therapist. In this way, the patterns that provide the most therapeutic benefits can be provided to the user."

1. Posted by stargrl357	Thu Apr 20, 2006 4:33 pm
Wow... I thought this was a joke until I saw the link to the patent. Is this... safe?
2. Posted by booboy	Thu Apr 20, 2006 4:38 pm
Haha... in the applications: "... an electric potential on the conductors (404) so that various areas of the user's body are stimulated." Ok... lets try to keep the dirty jokes down.
3. Posted by PunkRock	Thu Apr 20, 2006 4:40 pm
Wow... I thought this was a joke until I saw the link to the patent. Is this... safe? i cant imagine its too dangerous... its still powered by a battery after all. but even still, i wouldnt use it in the rain.
4. Posted by Bushy Turtle	Fri Apr 21, 2006 3:10 pm
shocking (sorry i couldnt help myself)
5. Posted by GSMDude	Fri Apr 21, 2006 3:22 pm
IMHO I think this is a pretty stupid invention. No one will wear this thing, and it's just a lawsuit waiting to happen. Vibrate works just fine. I've never heard of anyone saying "Gee I wish I had a quieter way to be alerted of coming calls... this vibration is way too loud." Another patent squat that won't make it to market. Companies do this all the time.
6. Posted by neek	Fri Apr 21, 2006 8:37 pm
I laugh when the phone vibrates off the table. What? I think this would be cool if, say, your bluetooth headset had a rumble back in it. That'd be nice.
7. Posted by peryus88	Sun Apr 23, 2006 9:40 am
Well, at least it's SLIGHTLY better than Samsung's smelly tones...
8. Posted by anihl8r	Mon Apr 24, 2006 5:51 pm
Well, I do think it would be a good idea.Sometimes your phone will go off in the middle of a test in math and you can hear it vibrate,and they always know who it is because your face looks just about like this
9. Posted by Bushy Turtle	Wed Apr 26, 2006 6:16 am
good idea in theory but im still weary about sticking something on me that's going to send electricity.
10. Posted by stargrl357	Thu May 25, 2006 11:36 am
I've seen those portable electrotheropy machines where you stick a patch on some part of your body and it sends eletric pulses to stimulate the muscle. I've never done it but it doesn't look painful... though I still woudn't stick anything that sends electricity through me.

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