The discussion revolves around the perception of a high-frequency ringtone, often referred to as the "mosquito ringtone," and its effects on different individuals. Participants share their experiences with hearing the tone, its potential pain-inducing qualities, and its applications in various contexts, such as discouraging loitering in stores. The conversation includes personal anecdotes, technical analyses of the sound, and reflections on hearing sensitivity, particularly among different age groups.
Participants do not reach a consensus on the ringtone's effects, with some finding it painful while others do not hear it at all. There are competing views on the ringtone's utility and its impact on different age groups.
Some participants note that their hearing sensitivity may be affected by prior exposure to loud environments, which could influence their ability to perceive the ringtone. Additionally, discussions about the technical aspects of sound perception include references to harmonics and subharmonics, which remain somewhat unresolved.
Ouabache said:It appears as a digitized sine wave, ~15.2KHz (I see a weak 1st harmonic at ~9.2KHz and stronger 2nd harmonic at ~3.2KHz.
Thanks for pointing that out. The spectral analysis does indicate two peaks lower in frequency from the fundamental. They should be called subharmonicsIvan Seeking said:The harmonics would have a higher frequency than the fundamental [first harmonic], not lower.
Janus said:I agree with other posters, that sound was on the edge of painful!
I had no trouble hearing it and I'm almost 48.