Handphone users should obey unwritten rules

JAKARTA (JP): With only about 450,000 handphones, Indonesia has one of the lowest cellular subscription rates in Asia Pacific region.

But, as far as use is concerned, Indonesians are among the world's most active users, averaging between 300 and 340 minutes of calls per month.

"Many Indonesians still consider a handphone to be a status symbol. They don't use it according to its proper function, which is a means of communication, but as a means of displaying richness," Eduard Depari, a communication expert, commented.

In developed countries, where handphones have a more well- established presence, people adhere to a code of manners in using their handphones.

They avoid display, putting their handphones in their bags or pockets, as opposed to Indonesians who love to show them off by carrying them on their hands.

"In some other countries, only yuppies use their handphones while walking in public places, and they do that seriously. In Indonesia, people use it while looking the left and right, watching people's reaction. The intention is to show that they have handphones," Eduard Depari, public relation manager of RCTI private television, said.

But fret no more. There is a code for polite usage of handphones.

The first rule of handphone use is not to use it at a public gathering such as a seminar or meeting because it will disturb other people.

"If you attend a seminar and don't expect a call, please, lock your phones. If you expect a call, activate it in such a way so that it won't release any noisy beep, but only a quiet buzzing when the call comes in," Depari advised. "If you want to answer the call, go out of the gathering and find a deserted place to do it."

In other countries, people are cautious about making a spectacle of themselves, and seldom violate rule number one of handphone use, he said.

In Indonesia, the first "rule" is often broken because many handphone-owners are eager to show off their exclusive possession.

Some public establishments have vowed to fight such wanton displays of consumerism. Cinemas such as the Hollywood KC now forbid moviegoers from activating their handphones during the show.

Mien Uno, director of the personality school John Robert Powers, suggested that people use other modern communications tools in tandem with their handphones to minimize disruptions.

"You can receive message through beepers and then go aside to make calls through handphones without bothering other people," she said. "Or, use a voice mail service when you are in meetings or other public gathering."

The second rule of using handphones is, if you are concerned about privacy, you shouldn't use your handphone in public places.

Many people use their handphones in public places, like malls, and then appear annoyed when others around them make noises, Depari said. "They don't have the right to be upset. It's a public place."

Rule number three concerns personal safety: don't use your handphone while driving.

Some countries, including the Netherlands, have forbidden the use of handphones while driving because it is potentially dangerous for the driver, other motorists and pedestrians.

Exception is made for drivers of ambulances, fire brigades and police vehicles, but violators of the decree face serious penalties.

Depari suggested that the government of Indonesia follow suit.

The fourth rule concerns public safety: don't use your handphones near electronic equipment that is non-resistant to cellular frequency.

Some electronic equipment, including surgical equipment in hospitals, and aircraft and military devices, may malfunction because of handphone frequency.

Because many people are unaware of this fact, property owners should post notices warning people not to use their handphones.

Many countries ban use of cellular telephone operation within two meters of medical equipment, in hospital wards, operating rooms, intensive care, accident, emergency and obstetric-newborn units, and near X-ray machines.

"In the case of the fourth rule, the call is directed more to the management of hospitals, aircraft, military devices that they make a warning notice. If there is no such notice, handphone users can't be blamed," Depari said.

Health

Experts are still undecided about whether frequent use of mobile phones is harmful to the users' health.

Cellular phones emit microwaves and may be dangerous because phones are next to people's heads when they are talking.

The wavelength of a mobile phone varies according to the type of system being used. The Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), for example, is about 940 megahertz. In comparison, a microwave oven is much higher, at 2,400 megahertz.

The human body, or in the case of mobile phones, the brain, absorbs some of the microwaves. However, just how much is absorbed and what amount is tolerable is open to debate.

A study by American researcher Ross Adey found that microwave radiation can speed up the growth of brain tumors.

In another recent experiment, lab rats that were subjected to prolonged microwave exposure, equivalent to that emitted by mobile phones, developed rapidly growing tumors.

The European Commission is sponsoring a study to examine the possible long-term effects such microwave emissions from mobile phones to a person's health.

This study, expected to begin some time in 1997, will employ the expertise of scientists from various fields including biologists, physicians and pathologists. (team)