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Are All These Buzzers, Beepers, and Acoustic Alerts Really Necessary?

Posted February 09, 2008 8:57 AM

Virtually anything electronic these days has some kind of built-in acoustic alert. While it makes sense safety-wise for auto/house burglar alarms, vehicle backup systems, smoke/CO detectors, etc., to be at the 80+ dB level, it appears that non-safety-critical applications could be toned down a bit. If you've ever had a microwave whose beeps hurt your ears at cycle end or a car-lock remote that makes people jump when you set it, you understand. Should designers universally give users the option of turning the function off or the volume down?

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Del the cat
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#1

Re:

02/09/2008 1:19 PM

Are All These Buzzers, Beepers, and Acoustic Alerts Really Necessary?

No they are a pain in the arse...

BEEP... ALERT CAT WRITING A CRAP POST..

BEEP... ALART CAT WRITING A CRAP POST..

BEEP...CRAP POST WRITING TERMINATED....BEEP

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Kilowatt0
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#2

Re: Are All These Buzzers, Beepers, and Acoustic Alerts Really Necessary?

02/10/2008 6:23 PM

"Should designers universally give users the option of turning the function off or the volume down?"

In a word: YES!

However, that presumes that you should have more control than the designers. And apparently they don't think you should.

OK, soapbox time. When was the last time you heard a car alarm sound-off, and thought "I should call the police"? Or did you think, like most people "Del just walked by some idiots car, where is the idiot, so I can snarl at him"?

Sorry Del.

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Del the cat
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#3
In reply to #2

Re: Are All These Buzzers, Beepers, and Acoustic Alerts Really Necessary?

02/10/2008 6:29 PM

I generally set 'em off by jumping on the bonnet (hood) .

You are sooo right... everyone just thinks 'some jerk with a cheap car alarm'

Last time it happened here it was my son's car !

Del

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Off Topic (Score 5)
logix101
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#4

Re: Are All These Buzzers, Beepers, and Acoustic Alerts Really Necessary?

02/11/2008 2:59 PM

I look at it the same way you have to with tooth paste, if it doesn't foam up it doesn't work. If something doesn't have an indicator beeping or flashing it docent work. It is for reassurance. We live is such a fast society we are in to much of a hurry for a visual notice. we rely on sound while we are doing something else, oh wait my e-mail beeped. Ok, don't laugh but does everybody remember the computers on the 60's and 70'so sifi shows? lots of knobs, lights and sounds. Those were the days...or so I'm told. I would like to see more smart remotes for cars or lets cram one more thing into our cell phones that speak to our car/house alarms to confirm status of alarms or if our hot pockets are ready to eat. sorry for the humor it just comes out that way sometimes.

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PWSlack
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#5

Re: Are All These Buzzers, Beepers, and Acoustic Alerts Really Necessary?

02/12/2008 5:09 AM

"Go to Yellow Alert" - William Shatner, a.k.a. Captain Kirk.

Most of these electronic noises can be disabled using a bucket of water......

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logix101
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#6
In reply to #5

Re: Are All These Buzzers, Beepers, and Acoustic Alerts Really Necessary?

02/12/2008 8:43 AM

With complete respect to you , does your tea kettle whistle to let you know it is ready? I am a fan of the tea also, milk and honey. I must add that honey from a southern USA peach orchard is tops!! If I am ever on dodman's lane I will certainly stop by between 3 or 5 o'clock . I will bring the scones.

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Off Topic (Score 5)
Guest
#7

Re: Are All These Buzzers, Beepers, and Acoustic Alerts Really Necessary?

02/18/2008 11:16 AM

No we should be able to silence them. They are a direct result of the CYA world the dam lawyers have created.
UltimateStereo
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Hastings, NE
Posts: 1
#8

Re: Are All These Buzzers, Beepers, and Acoustic Alerts Really Necessary?

02/18/2008 1:30 PM

Hell will be full of lawyers. Some with a "backup beeper" in one ear and "keys in ign/lights on" in the other !!!! ;)

Solution 1. Jam popsicle or tongue depressor sticks between housing and transducer. I now have a very faint beep in my land yacht ('86 Pontiac Parisienne).

Solution 2. Pound a ice pick into the transducer........ahhh silence.

Solution 3. Eng dept provides a volume control.......no brainer or extra charge

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Del the cat (2), Guest (1), Kilowatt0 (1), logix101 (2), PWSlack (1), UltimateStereo (1)

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