had a phone not turned off, and a lot of them weren't even on just the buzz.

But how in the world could a signal be sent to ring every phone? I was under the impression that you needed to dial specific numbers.

Maybe Hong Kong allows private businesses to broadcast to any mobile device within their premises. Sort of like the grocery stores, google, or utility companies saying when you're on our premises (websites) you agree to give up your privacy and data while using our services.

ETA: this type of cell broadcasting (push) to devices withinin a specified geographical location can be switched off by the user.

Cell phones transmit via RF, just like any other device. Your phones are constantly broadcasting their identity to nearby cellphone towers so that the towers will know where you are. When someone calls your cellphone, the signal for your phone isn't broadcast to every cell tower on the planet. It is broadcast to the last tower that you checked in at. Your phone has to keep checking in to keep that connection active.

In the beginning of the video, you can see the operators scanning local phone frequencies and apparently capturing the IMEI/IMSI numbers of the nearby active phones. The device they're using is called an IMSI Catcher (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMSI-catcher), and they're typically only used by law enforcement agencies when tracking phones. Once they have the identifiers from the phone, they can broadcast the alert signal (technically the "Short Message Alert", the first step in the SMS transfer process, which essentially just tells your phone that a message is waiting) with your IMSI embedded so that it routes to your handset. They're simply spoofing a cell tower and sending the first part of the SMS handshake to trick your phone into thinking that a message was waiting.

There would be no actual text data because your phone would fail to connect back for the SMS retrieval, but on a lot of handsets it can still set off the sms alert.

Back in the 1990's, when cellphones were first beginning to really become ubiquitous among the non-wealthy, this was a prank that some geek types liked to pull off now and then. With the right tech, you could set off every cellphone within a hundred yards. And then do it again, and again, and again until they got frustrated and shut them off.

It's COMPLETELY illegal to do this in the U.S., of course.

Now, shut those cellphones off.

because they just HAD to answer their phone while they were not driving.

answering the phones that they do it so automatically that if they were driving the results may well be they end up wrapped around the tree.

It doesn't hurt to try and get people's attention to things that are dangerous. It also doesn't hurt to remind people they shouldn't have their phones on in a cinema!

should be a recurring at unsuspected intervals in all theaters. Perhaps it will help people think about what they saw there.

I'd also recommend Werner Herzog's shot doc...it's amazing, horrible, and gut wrenching.

this - I couldn't make it all the way through - I will do so because as you said it is amazing, horrible and gut wrenching. And while so very powerful, it makes me cry to think how so many have lost their lives or being so affected by texting while driving.

May be it is because I am older, but I don't understand the need to let everyone know where I am every minute of the day.

But I thank you for posting this. The message needs to be seen and heard!

Last 5or6 movies I've gone too. That bright light in a dark theater is VERY annoying.

I have to sit in the back because of my eyesight and it's so disturbing seeing those bright lights - WTF is wrong with people - if you cannot go a couple of hours without checking your phone, RENT a fucking movie

...at least in NY (where I visit) and IL (where I live). The IL law is very new, and not many people seem to be heeding it. If one is involved in an accident with evidence that cell phone use was a contributing factor, jail time is possible.

There s/b federal laws, of course.

...I have taken on-line statements at face value. I need to fine tune my subtlety-detector -

He was trying to impress upon me that young people are better at multi tasking than old guys like me. As he said that the word "Asshat" echoed silently in my head. Texting and driving is not a skill to be proud of.

WHAT IS DISTRACTED DRIVING?

Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety. These types of distractions include:

Texting
Using a cell phone or smartphone
Eating and drinking
Talking to passengers
Grooming
Reading, including maps
Using a navigation system
Watching a video
Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player
But, because text messaging requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver, it is by far the most alarming distraction.

The best way to end distracted driving is to educate all Americans about the danger it poses. On this page, you'll find facts and statistics that are powerfully persuasive. If you don't already think distracted driving is a safety problem, please take a moment to learn more. And, as with everything on Distraction.gov, please share these facts with others. Together, we can help save lives.

http://www.distraction.gov/content/get-the-facts/facts-and-statistics.html

but if not, it seems relevant:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/28/driver-dies-happy-song-facebook-_n_5223175.html

How would you feel if the school bus driver entrusted to take your kids back and forth to school felt it was okay to text while driving? Because I've seen it -- more than once. No problem, huh?