Westminster - hidden microphones in lamp posts?

zoombini · 17-05-2005, 10:05

Taken from "The Engineer" magazine.

Quote:

Westminster Council plans to install wireless microphones to lamp posts outside houses to monitor noise levels.
Should home owners make too much noise, officers will be despatched to the house.
The microphones will communicate via theinternet. Will be tested in Soho over the next few months and eventually the network will cover the whole of Westminster/

Isn't this going a bit too far?
I can see this as a point at which some may try getting free internet access.

Does anyone know anything about this?

Which ISP will they use I wonder?

Also reported here.

punky · 17-05-2005, 10:11

It can't work. If someone makes a noise walking past, then they'll be gone before anyone comes to do anything. Even if someone was around when they turn up, how could you prove who made the noise, if it is now quiet?

Plus, I guarantee you, as soon as they are installed, people will be drawn to them like magnets and shout in them deliberately as much as possible.

And who would be monitoring this system anyway? I wouldn't really want some tin pot glorified security guard monitoring my conversations. MI5 is a different matter, but not just any old person.

Stuart · 17-05-2005, 10:15

What's the point, really? Under the current system, if your neighbour makes noise, you can report him or her. It just seems to me to be a case of throwing technology at a problem that doesn't need it.

Paul K · 17-05-2005, 10:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by scastle

What's the point, really? Under the current system, if your neighbour makes noise, you can report him or her. It just seems to me to be a case of throwing technology at a problem that doesn't need it.

Probably a case of too many people claiming to not be creating noise, you have to provide proof to be able to prosecute successfully.

Kevin · 17-05-2005, 10:28

Either that or they want to monitor everyones conversations in westminster......

Nikko · 17-05-2005, 10:33

Perhaps they intend to sell the resultant recordings?

No. 1 this week: Poodle Piddling in Pimlico (live version)
Coming soon: Canine cavortings in Kensington

Raistlin · 17-05-2005, 13:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikko

Perhaps they intend to sell the resultant recordings?

No. 1 this week: Poodle Piddling in Pimlico (live version)
Coming soon: Canine cavortings in Kensington

Like it.....

I think, speaking seriously here for a moment, that there is a larger civil liberties issue here (and you don't know how bad I feel about using that statement).

bmxbandit · 17-05-2005, 13:18

unless they're going to point a mic at everyones house individually, i can't see what this will acheve...

Flubflow · 17-05-2005, 13:39

Maybe they would simply take the input from several microphones to calulate the origin of the persistent noise?
On a similar note, I think there was/is a system in some city in America which uses an arrangement of microphones over the city and sonic analysing equipment/software to pinpoint the location of a gunshot to within a few metres so police can be despatched extremely quickly to the scene.

Pierre · 17-05-2005, 17:08

Great,

Kareoke for dogs.

Caspar · 17-05-2005, 17:57

not that I make much noise

...but what are the times thresholds that limit noise in towns?

I've played noisy games until 2am most weekends...and upto midnight most nights.... I assume this could cause issues!???

Also, one of my neighbours is rather loud when communicating with her children when they, seemingly, have been naughty...this is most mornings before 8am and always weekends b4 9am

What's the noise law!?

bmxbandit · 17-05-2005, 18:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caspar

What's the noise law!?

look up BS4142

from my lecture notes, if the equivalent noise you make over an 8 hour day (LAeq) is 10dB more than the cumulative background noise that happens 90% of the time (L90), then someone has a legitimate complaint.

there's a few more bits to it, but thats pretty much it!
__________________

um, actually thats industrial noise. i imagine its not too dissimilar for residential...

zoombini · 17-05-2005, 23:12

Hmm, I wonder if they will be tapping into all the hidden bedroom cameras too?