Submitted by Bob Bhatnagar on
The fact that cellular devices emit radiation is nothing new, and the debate over how much exposure is harmful is far from settled. Tawkon has developed an app for BlackBerry and Android devices to help those concerned about the issue. The company was hoping to bring an iPhone version to the App Store but the software was rejected by Apple.
Tawkon has made the app available on the Cydia app store for jailbroken iPhones and is appealing to customers to help urge Apple to lift the ban. Reports have indicated Apple CEO Steve Jobs himself responded to the company with a short email stating simply, "No interest."
All cellular phones emit different levels of radiation depending on distance from cell towers, local environmental conditions and even the position of the device. The iPhone is no different, however Apple has been keen to reduce perceptions that the iPhone 4 external antenna suffers from the so-called death grip. Some users have experienced a drop in signal strength when holding the iPhone 4 in specific ways. Tawkon has used their RRI (real-time radiation indication) technology to demonstrate an increase in predicted radiation when this signal attenuation occurs.
The problem is not limited to iPhones by any means. When it comes to the app in question, Tawkon seeks to educate interested mobile phone users on the radiation levels they are exposed to from their devices. Using RF parameters and other data such as information from the proximity sensor, RRI measures emission and exposure as the phone is used. The app will track long-term statistics of exposure and recommend changes in behavior such as turning the phone or using a headset when conditions are right to reduce absorption.
In normal operating circumstances the iPhone SAR (specific absorption rate) is well within levels considered safe by the US Federal Communications Commission. Unfortunately for those who are interested in more details on their iPhones, jailbreaking is the only way to get Tawkon at the present time.
Comments
Debby replied on Permalink
I think the *OTHER* 50,000 developers should have to follow all the rules about "don't use private API calls"... but I should be able to use them anyway.
I'm special.
Anonymous replied on Permalink
Electro-Sensitivity (ES)
Electro-sensitive people suffer from a variety of symptoms in close vicinity to electromagnetic fields, Wi-fi, mobiles, DECT phones, baby monitors, certain light sources etc: Headaches, Speech problems, dizziness, chest palpations, tinnitus, sweating at night. skin irritations, pins and needles in the hands in the mornings, short-term memory loss, nauseas, joint aches and pressures at the back of the head as well as in the sinus or forehead area.
Even if you are not ES, it is beneficial to turn off your Wifi over night, as well as to ban electrical items, your cordless phones and mobiles from your bedroom. You will sleep much better and are less likely to have an interrupted sleep pattern. Usually waking around 4 am.
Another simple test is to stop carrying your mobile on your body (chest or trouser pockets). in many cases people experience the so-called “phantom text messages”. This describes a situation where every now and then you think you had a text message, when keeping the phone in your pockets, but when you checked there was no message. Some even suffer from heart palpitations. If that is case, just try for a while to carry your mobile in a bag or switch it off, while you have it in your pocket.