Nanotechnology involves deploying really, really tiny organisms for practical effect, in products such as stain-resistant paints, sunscreen, and now - if you can believe this - paint with minute copper particles that can prevent cell phone calls from coming in or going out of public venues. It's from a West Henrietta, New York company called NaturalNano, and they call it their "RF Shielding Application." Here's an overview from the Web site.

Chicago Tribune science reporter Jon Van reports:

The intrusion of cellular phone rings into theaters, schools and nearly every other nook and cranny of modern life may soon hit a wall. Playing to the backlash against ubiquitous communication, a company called NaturalNano is developing a special high-tech paint that relies on the wizardry of nanotechnology to create a system that locks out unwanted cell phone signals on demand. The paint represents a dream to those who seek a distraction-free movie or concert experience, and a nightmare to those who compulsively monitor their BlackBerry phones.

..."You could use this in a concert hall, allowing cell phones to work before the concert and during breaks, but shutting them down during the performance," said Michael Riedlinger, president of NaturalNano of Rochester, N.Y....Even the thought of such a thing upsets the wireless phone industry. "We oppose any kind of blocking technology," said Joe Farren, spokesman for The Wireless Association, the leading cell phone trade group. "What about the young parents whose baby-sitter is trying to call them, or the brain surgeon who needs notification of emergency surgery? These calls need to get through."

....But Robert Crowley of AMBIT Corp., which designed the radio filtering device for NaturalNano, said...the radio filter would allow all emergency radio communications to pass through the shield...With all other signals, like cell phones, the filter would act like a spigot to block or allow them to pass through—say, only during intermission. "Our No. 1 request comes from churches," he said. "Pastors want a way to stop cell phones ringing in church and people taking calls during worship services."

The cell phone industry shill has it wrong. It's management's prerogative to allow cell phone usage, or not. If we're lucky, cell phone-blocking interior latex, in a variety of attractive shades, will be liberally applied to the walls of churches, restaurants, public halls, theaters, and public school classrooms. I'd love to see a transparent application for bus interiors, too.

It's only natural that technology designed to limit technology should begin to flourish. Especially when so many lack the good judgement to limit their use of personal technology in a more organic fashion.

TECHNORATI TAGS: CELL PHONES, CELL PHONE BAN, PAINT, NANOTECHNOLOGY, NATURALNANO, WEST HENRIETTA, NEW YORK

Posted by Matt Rosenberg at March 1, 2006 05:15 PM