Fiendish device for interrupting headphone users required

[telford_mike]

Our place is full of people sitting at desks, most of them doing boring jobs. No surprise then that a lot of people listen to music via their ipod or whatever, and mentally slide off into oblivion.

Looking for a device that will cause a headset to make a noise to indicate that I want to talk to the user (maybe a bit like the way that a mobile phone signal causes interference with loudspeakers). Does anything like this exist?

[Liszt]

Pair of scissors?

[sparkythecat]

This should do it

[mouseymousey]

I use an elastic band aimed at the head.

[Dave^]

mouseymousey said:

I use an elastic band aimed at the head.

HTH

[Fastra]

You need some sort of local EMP device.
Something that only affects headphones (specifcally ipod ones which seem to work backwards and put more sound 'out' than 'in', and not any other device in the near vicinity.

The inventor of such a device would make a fortune!!!!

[telford_mike]

I've tried chucking balls of paper etc - the ignorant gits seem to think this is rude

Need something electronic (and infuriating).

[ShadownINja]

Fastra said:

You need some sort of local EMP device.
Something that only affects headphones (specifcally ipod ones which seem to work backwards and put more sound 'out' than 'in', and not any other device in the near vicinity.

The inventor of such a device would make a fortune!!!!

A nuclear bomb would do the trick. Apart from the "only affects headphones" bit.

[selwonk]

My manager used to hurl a foam brick:



Very effective!

[fatboy b]

Have a chat to HR - they'll email everyone to say that it's against Health & Safety to wear headphones at work, as you won't be able to hear the fire alarm. Well that's what they did when I worked at Motorola, and to be fair we all worked in pens that meant we couldn't see everyone running for he door if there were a fire.

[marshalla]

Few people realise that this problem has existed for many centuries. In Medieval times the solution was a cunning device known as the "lance". It was designed to allow the lord to gain the attention of his serfs while they were listening to their iPoddes. Standing at a great distance, this lance could be used to gently nudge the serf in the back, side or any other area of the anatomy deemed appropriate to inform them that their master wished to converse with them immediately.

In later years, EURO NCAP testing of lances (carried out at speed on horseback) proved a popular form of spectator sport with tens of groats changing hands on the final rounds.

[Man-At-Arms]

selwonk said:

My manager used to hurl a foam brick:



Very effective!

i want one
would be great in an open plan office

[Dupont666]

communicator/mindalign/lotus communicator....

Surely you have one of those?

[aitch2]

Squash ball on a length of string

[TheStoat]

Cattle prod. After a while people will spontaneously start regularly checking to see if you wish to converse

[telford_mike]

Dupont666 said:

communicator/mindalign/lotus communicator....

Surely you have one of those?

I wish. In any case they'd probably set their presence to 'away' or something, or just ignore it. These people are devoting 100% of their attention to their music, so it has to be an audible interruption through the headset.

[Flip Martian]

I find this whole concept weird. We're all told we're not allowed to use ipods etc. End of problem.

[s99ane]

What about a taser gun with 50000 volts?
That's gonna get their attention quickly

[s99ane]

What about a taser gun with 50000 volts?
That's gonna get their attention quickly

[ajprice]

MSN? (other IM chat applications are available)