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October 21, 2004
TV-B-Gone: Big Trouble Coming
Posted by Dana Blankenhorn
Don't get me wrong. I love the idea behind TV-B-Gone, a tidy little invention that runs through hundreds of codes for shutting down sets remotely and, eventually, does just that.
The device fits on the end of a keychain and can be slipped back in the pocket after it's used. (Image from Gizmodo.)
God knows there have been many times when I've entered the locker room at my local YMCA, heard some unpleasant show blaring, and wished I had one.
But there is going to be trouble.
- Someone is going to take this beast to a sports bar and maliciously turn all the TVs off, probably keeping the gizmo in their pocket so they can hit it again each time the workers fight to get things back on.
- Some kid is going to turn off something everyone is watching and laugh a little too loudly at this. The kid is going to get beat senseless and then sue everyone.
- Someone is going to use this in a bar or some other public place, in a state where the Second Amendment is highly prized and people walk around with guns in their pocket, and they're going to be killed.
- A bereaved relative is going to sue the inventor of this device over the death, and win.
I guarantee it.
There are times when the cure ends up worse than the disease and I'm very much afraid this is going to be one of those times.
Mitch Altman is going to end up sorry he ever thought of this thing.
Comments (2)
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Dana Blankenhorn has been a business journalist for over 25 years and has covered the online world professionally since 1985. He founded the "Interactive Age Daily" for CMP Media, and has written for the Chicago Tribune, Advertising Age, and dozens of other publications over the years.
1. joe on October 21, 2004 01:16 PM writes...
All you need to do is cover up the IR port with a little black tape and poof - no more problems in your sports bar.
Also a great opportunity for someone to come up with an encrypted remote/receive system - like they have on garage door openers.
Permalink to Comment2. Jesse Kopelman on October 21, 2004 03:40 PM writes...
Ah, the new laser pointer. Only this time, even less potential to be useful and more potential to be annoying. Yes parents, buy this for your 12 year-old sons and they will derive no end of joy from it.
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