Japan restricts in-flight use of wireless functions of DS and PSP

Posted Mar 26, 2007 at 10:22PM by QJ Staff Listed in: News Tags: Fight Club, Japan, Sony
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In-flight emergency procedures - Image 1


In a recent article on Yomiuri Online, it's reported that Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, has officially restricted the use of wireless multiplayer functions of portable game systems - logically for the Nintendo DS, and the Sony PSP.

The justification behind the ruling is of course, the same as all the other rules associated with wireless technologies inside airplanes: which is that they might interfere with the cabin equipment.

Oh, and if you're thinking that these things aren't really true, and it's just some airplane flight conspiracy or what not (stop watching too much "Fight Club"), then you'd be surprised to know that the Ministry informs that there have been more than 200 reported incidents since 1993 due to interference due to wireless technologies.

So there, no messing around with Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops okay? Just stick to LocoRoco.

 
 
 

Comments

by - 2007-03-26 23:00:12
boo

who cares. no one cares. delete this thread. FIRST POST YE HA!
by aliasneo - 2007-03-26 23:40:51
I care...

Can't you just turn off the WLAN switch and play without interfering anything?
by - 2007-03-26 23:49:44
Yes

Yes, you can. The only thing you can't do is use the wireless functions of the consoles, but you can play if you don't use those functions... Anyway, I'm always impressed to see that such huge monsters of technology (planes) can be affected by things like that... It really doesn't make travels by plane look safe...
by - 2007-03-26 23:57:45
Not quite...

It'll be exactly like cell phones on a plane or in a hospital. You will be told to turn it off, not just refrain from using Wifi. If the steward or stewardess sees you playing an NDS, he or she isn't going to just trust that you are playing a single player game.
by - 2007-03-27 00:20:47
nice pic

qj is hip!
by - 2007-03-27 01:56:17
Except for one small problem...

There is no evidence that any of this actually interferes with planes in any way. Just like the cellphone use at the gas pump. I know the real reason behind it, and it ain't anything to do with sparks or fire. The actual reason is because they're concerned that the signals will interfere with the pumps and basically screw with them so you get free gas. Seriously, back in the 80's, certain makes of gas pump, if you had a CB radio and keyed the mike while filling up, they'd register no gas being pumped, despite it filling your tank as normal.
by - 2007-03-27 03:43:15
keep playing

I don't know how it is in the US, but on a JAL/ANA plane, they'd probably trust you not to use wireless. After all, why would most smartphones have an 'airplane setting' otherwise?
by - 2007-03-27 03:47:11
fc

fight club is STILL the coolest movie ever
by - 2007-03-27 07:51:36
Well...

Actually, cells aren't allowed on planes because they aren't sure who's jurisdiction it is. There was a debate between whether it's FCC or some Air Traffic Control body, so neither really looked into whether or not it'd effect the plane's equipment. So in short, they just banned the use to be on the safe side. Seriously, read into it. There hasn't been a single reported issue between cell phone use and plane equipment failure. Free gas for using a cell phone? I'm in. I knew Mythbusters busted the spark causing an explosions. They said it's a lot more likely from the static generated from getting in and out of your car, then touching the door handle.
by - 2007-03-27 08:59:38
it's been proven

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythBusters_%28season_3%29#Episode_49_.E2.80.94_.22Cell_Phones_on_a_Plane.22 government is just too dumb to realize it.
by - 2007-03-27 10:31:28
better safe than sorry

Mythbusters looked into the 'cell phones on planes' issue and this is the conclusion: "It was found that cell phone signals, specifically those in the 800-900 MHz range, did interfere with unshielded *****pit instrumentation. Because older aircraft with unshielded wiring can be affected, and because of the possible problems that may arise by having many airborne cell phones "seeing" multiple cell phone towers, the FCC (via enforcement through the FAA) still deems it best to stay on the safe side and prohibit the use of cell phones while airborn."
by - 2007-03-27 11:12:52
...

shut up kiza. and most airlines ban all wifi devices and mobiles anyway to be used.

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