Check out the top 10 technology bans that somehow significantly affected the way the world works. Here goes!
10. Apple’s Sexy Apps
Such applications would have taken the notion of AppleCare to a whole new level. In February of 2010, Apple formally banned applications that were deemed too coarse and lascivious from its iTunes store. Among the applications considered out of bounds was iBoobs; it allowed users to toggle through wobbling bosoms on display. Techies saw the move as a sign that Apple would maintain a heavy hand in regulating its marketplace.
9. Google Street View
Technology is advancing at an enormous pace no doubt, and with the compilation of street maps into a single application would have been a tremendous improvement in GPS systems and related technologies, but due to privacy related issues, the governments of both Greece and Austria banned Google from deploying its street-level cars in the countries. The ban took place in May of 2009 and is pushback against Google’s interfering eyes.
8. Music-Free Marathons
You might have experienced the feeling of not having your iPod when you set out for a long journey, now imagine ‘running’ 26 miles on a track without listening to music. In the year 2007, USA Track & Field, the governing body for running and race walking, banned headphones and portable audio players at its official races. The measure was meant for the runners’ safety.
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Would have loved the iBoobs. LOL
A few of these are ridiculous and some are just common sense – the laser pointer one, as the last few uses of it pointed out (pun not intended).
Aw, this is dumb. I thought you said TECHNOLOGIES, not screwy little applications for technology. I thought you were going to tell us about amazing breakthroughs that governments did not want us to have, instead you whine about music machines and street cameras? Much ado about extremely little.
BB is not yet blocked is Saudi Arabia
Worth mentioning is that only laser pointers with green and blue light are banned, due to the significantly higher energy in the beam. If pointed in the eyes, it’ll create permanent damage immediately. Red and yellow laser pointers are still legal
We still have Blackberry here in UAE.
The government threatened to ban them unless blackberry gave them the keys to their encryption technology and like a boss BB told them to blow it out their sandy backsides.
Ban goes into effect in October.
Color of the laser indeed has nothing to do with laser power. Lasers come in many colors and power. At the moment, 445nm (blue) lasers are the most powerful a readily available. But that is just a situation on the market, next year it might be red, or green.
Most bans specify power of the laser. Usually it is 5mW, like in Australia. Only stronger lasers in hand-held pointer from are banned. Weaker pointers are not banned. Stronger lasers in different form, like disco lights, are not banned. Also for actual pointing on the table or stars, 5mW green is all you need. Anything stronger is dangerous to sight, and with level of idiots around it should be banned.
laser pointers are not banned any where! in any country! maybe from a few schools here and there but, just no!
AFAIK class 2 laser pointers are legal everywhere. Class 3 (> 1 mW) pointers are dangerous and rightfully banned or restricted in some countries.
Just to make a comment on your piece about Pakistan banning Facebook. I was a bit of an advert for islam masquerading as a piece on another, unrelated subject.
And for my tuppence I think that you may need to re-read the historicity of that religion,”indubitable authenticity” it certainly has not. its as reliable as any other superstit…sorry religion. Its “genuine literature” is anything but.
I don’t want to just bash your writing but I think that you should be a journalist and stick to reporting on why Pakistan banned facebook and not get sidetracked into a piece reassuring yourself that your belief system is the correct one.
OMG
ASIANS CAN ACTUALLY READ MINDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
they can hear, and see what your visually thinking
this is the absolute complete truth
The reason a lot of Asians have completely expressionless faces, segregate from everybody else-only associate with Asians and don’t associate with non Asians that much, and are very unfriendly in general is to avoid accidentally revealing that they can read minds. If all over a billion Asians where to show facial expressions all the time just as much as non Asians, integrate and associate with non Asians much more, and be much more friendly and talkative, then a lot of them might accidentally reveal that they can read minds by accidentally showing a facial expression or dirty look when someone thinks, or visually pictures something in their mind they don’t like, find astonishing, or funny etc because those people might see that and really wonder what that was that just happened there and see the connection, and they might accidentally say something similar to what the person was just thinking and going to say. If they all associated with non Asians a lot more then there would be a lot more people around for them to accidentally show facial expressions when those people think things they don’t like etc, so they segregate and only associate with Asians so there won’t be anyone around for them to see that and have any accidents happen in the first place.
Try thinking, best yet visually picturing in your mind something absolutely crazy as you possibly can when you are around Asians, and try looking for Asians who give people particular looks, especially dirty looks for what appears to be for completely no reason, that is them giving people looks when they hear and visually see someone thinking something they don’t like, find astonishing, or funny etc.
I know this may sound crazy, impossible and unbelievable, BUT IT ISN’T CRAZY WHEN IT’S TRUE
YOU HAVE TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE!!!!!!
THE WORLD HAS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS!!!!!!
@ rnrdoctor
You have made a clear and unambiguous statement that could have been, and certainly should have been checked as it is easily proven to be incorrect before you submitted it. But hey, who cares about facts on the internet? Well I bloody do. Morons like yourself spread misinformation with zero respect for accuracy or honesty and are doing humanity nothing but harm.
Grow up!
Maintenant, ce sera mon chaton jouer avec?
This is why I love and still use Blackberry. Anyone who stands up to those stinky, hate mongering towel heads has got my business.
My tin foil hat will protect me,it blocks all atempts by face book,goverments and asians to read my thoughts(as well as extra terestials)So stock up on tinfoil,it works.
blackberry is NOT banned in saudi arabia or uae.
Im from Saudi and have a UAE friend and we all have blackberries -_-
I think you should have mentioned the norwegian ban on skateboards as well.
Best of luck enforcing the use of laser pointer bans. I’m still reverse engineering one.
we should ban sand niggers in europe, would be fair too, if they call us filth lovers….
The ban on headphones and portable audio players seems to be nothing less than common sense. I see runners, and even cyclists, constantly running\riding with some form of audio device playing – albeit cranked up or just at a moderate to low-level. Either way, it definitely reduces your awareness to your surroundings and inhibits your ability to discern approaching vehicles and other dangers.
And yes, I am an athlete (cyclist). And no, I do not ever use any type of audio device, when I cycle, for the very reason(s) listed above.
Not Tel-Aviv but Jerusalem is capital city of Israel…
I’m just so sure that there are much more meaningful technological breakthroughs that were banned by governments (and/or big business). This list seems like it’s just banning some pretty cool toys – granted, some of them can be used maliciously by sick or stupid people (like guns in the USA for instance)… my 0.02 worth
They should ban cancer causing agents in our food supply.
“Governments” didn’t ban several of these.
Pakistan has blocked youtube as well, and the ban is still on. Pakistani authorities are in talks with google to establish some sort of filter in Pakistan to screen videos which might cause unrest in country. Facebook ban was lifted after a month or two!