Jammers take cell phone battle up a notch

San Francisco -- The development of cell phone jammers has opened a new front in the battle of indiscriminate cell phone usage in public places in the United States.

A San Francisco architect identified only as Andrew said he began using the technology to block cell phone reception once he could no longer stand hearing the endless chattering, The New York Times reported.

Andrew said that while he initially abused his new-found power, he has learned how to use it judiciously to ensure he can enjoy a quiet ride home on the train after work.

"At this point, just knowing I have the power to cut somebody off is satisfaction enough," he said.

But an official at Rutgers University told the Times that Andrew's point of view is simply based on the same inconsiderate world view that the problematic cell phone users embrace.

"If anything characterizes the 21st century, it's our inability to restrain ourselves for the benefit of other people," said James Katz, who runs the university's Center for Mobile Communication Studies. "The cell phone talker thinks his rights go above that of people around him, and the jammer thinks his are the more important rights."

© 2007 United Press International.