Two questions
May. 12th, 2011 05:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sniffnoy1. Why don't phones have block lists?
Recently I thought I'd write up a full "Why I do not like the telephone" rant, before realizing that this was pointless because probably everyone knows my thoughts on this already, and my attitudes regarding the phone are becoming more common anyway. The only purpose it would serve would be as something I could refer people to if they really don't get it.
But in particular one thing occurred to me while I was writing the beginning of this: Why don't phones have block lists? Phones don't have IM-style contact lists (where you can see whether the other person is online and if they've set a status) because the phone network isn't built to support that. (Though I hear it has become customary among many people to send a text before making a phone call - a very sensible workaround, if still a workaround.) But a block list wouldn't require restructuring the phone network - it could easily be implemented "client-side". Just have the phone check all incoming calls against the block list, and automatically reject if so. Optionally, put up a notification so the user knows that this has occurred.
Perhaps some higher-end phones implement it? But it's a pretty basic feature, so if so, why isn't it more common? Are the actual phone parts of smartphones programmable? Could you just program it in yourself, or download it from someone who has? The Do-Not-Call-List works pretty well at preventing commercial calls, but that's only commercial calls, and only if you live in a country that has such a thing! Is there some law against it or something? :-/
The actual thing that got me thinking of this was the idea of having an emergency line (since some people insist "but you have to be contactable in an emergency!", but I certainly do not want people calling me at arbitrary times). If you have an emergency line, you need a way to prevent abuse. So here's a simple way: Someone abuses it, you block them. (From the emergency line, not necessarily in general.) It's a simple enough concept that you don't really need to give them a warning, really. But you can't do this if you can't do blocklists!
2. What was Dr. Richman's drill?
When I was back in New Jersey I used to go to a dentist in Fair Lawn by the name of Dr. Richman. There were a few occasions when I had to get cavities filled there. Now he had some special drill that he used, where he didn't need to use any anesthetic. I mean, it still hurt, quite a bit actually, but far from unbearably so. Certainly anesthetic wasn't needed. I don't remember what the technology was, though. The phrase "sonic drill" sounds familiar but that could be from anywhere.
Looking things up I see there do exist laser drills - sounds familiar, but definitely not it from the description - and air abrasion drills - which doesn't sound familiar, but is a better match than lasers, but still not a very good one as it says that these still shouldn't cause a vibrating sensation.
So what the hell was it? Are the descriptions not accurate? Was it in fact some sort of "sonic drill"? Or is getting your teeth drilled just really not that bad, and he just lied to save trouble? That last possibility seems decidedly unethical, though it also doesn't seem too likely. Certainly not likely enough that I'd be willing to forgo the anesthetic if I had to get any more cavities filled here! I'm still confused, though.
-Harry
Recently I thought I'd write up a full "Why I do not like the telephone" rant, before realizing that this was pointless because probably everyone knows my thoughts on this already, and my attitudes regarding the phone are becoming more common anyway. The only purpose it would serve would be as something I could refer people to if they really don't get it.
But in particular one thing occurred to me while I was writing the beginning of this: Why don't phones have block lists? Phones don't have IM-style contact lists (where you can see whether the other person is online and if they've set a status) because the phone network isn't built to support that. (Though I hear it has become customary among many people to send a text before making a phone call - a very sensible workaround, if still a workaround.) But a block list wouldn't require restructuring the phone network - it could easily be implemented "client-side". Just have the phone check all incoming calls against the block list, and automatically reject if so. Optionally, put up a notification so the user knows that this has occurred.
Perhaps some higher-end phones implement it? But it's a pretty basic feature, so if so, why isn't it more common? Are the actual phone parts of smartphones programmable? Could you just program it in yourself, or download it from someone who has? The Do-Not-Call-List works pretty well at preventing commercial calls, but that's only commercial calls, and only if you live in a country that has such a thing! Is there some law against it or something? :-/
The actual thing that got me thinking of this was the idea of having an emergency line (since some people insist "but you have to be contactable in an emergency!", but I certainly do not want people calling me at arbitrary times). If you have an emergency line, you need a way to prevent abuse. So here's a simple way: Someone abuses it, you block them. (From the emergency line, not necessarily in general.) It's a simple enough concept that you don't really need to give them a warning, really. But you can't do this if you can't do blocklists!
2. What was Dr. Richman's drill?
When I was back in New Jersey I used to go to a dentist in Fair Lawn by the name of Dr. Richman. There were a few occasions when I had to get cavities filled there. Now he had some special drill that he used, where he didn't need to use any anesthetic. I mean, it still hurt, quite a bit actually, but far from unbearably so. Certainly anesthetic wasn't needed. I don't remember what the technology was, though. The phrase "sonic drill" sounds familiar but that could be from anywhere.
Looking things up I see there do exist laser drills - sounds familiar, but definitely not it from the description - and air abrasion drills - which doesn't sound familiar, but is a better match than lasers, but still not a very good one as it says that these still shouldn't cause a vibrating sensation.
So what the hell was it? Are the descriptions not accurate? Was it in fact some sort of "sonic drill"? Or is getting your teeth drilled just really not that bad, and he just lied to save trouble? That last possibility seems decidedly unethical, though it also doesn't seem too likely. Certainly not likely enough that I'd be willing to forgo the anesthetic if I had to get any more cavities filled here! I'm still confused, though.
-Harry
no subject
Date: 2011-05-12 09:35 pm (UTC)You can set a given number/contact to go straight to voicemail (which also gets transcribed to text) or be screened more heavily. And it doesn't require any different phone; you just need to switch to a Google Voice number (which it gives you for free). On Android it's best because it integrates well, but I found it useful even before I got a smartphone.
no subject
Date: 2011-05-13 09:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-20 05:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-20 06:03 pm (UTC)If you don't port, Google Voice still really just wraps over your existing number(s), so your existing one will continue to work. You can then take your time informing all your contacts of your new one--that's what I did and I've been like 99% complete for awhile now (the only people who still call me on my old number are people I haven't been in contact with for years, and I quickly correct them).
One other thing it does: it lets you set different ways of handling your phones by time of day. So if you don't want to receive calls between 10 PM and 8 AM, for example, you can set all calls to go straight to voicemail during those hours (by disabling all of your phones), as well as setting different time ranges for weekends and weekdays. I don't use that, but it's still pretty cool to have the option.