Friday, July 11, 2008

URBAN LEGEND?

By Emily Stephens

Have you seen this YouTube video yet? It has well over a million hits.
Three adults surround a few popcorn kernels with their cell phones, then dial each phone until--POP! POP! POP! POP!

Can cell phones really emit enough radiation to pop popcorn?

According to Cardo Systems CEO Abraham Glezerman, the answer is no. The video is a hoax. An illusion produced by his company, which manufactures and sells blue tooth headsets.

What’s interesting, though, is it came on the heels of some disturbing research that actually starts to link cell phone radiation with cancer (see the article Electrosmog, Cell Phones, and Cancer.... Oh My! below.)

So, how in the world did they do it?

Theories run the gamut: optical illusions, CGI, mini-microwaves beneath the table... The answer to the mystery is a kitchen stove and digital editing. Kernels were erased from the scene using editing software and real popcorn was thrown onto the table to steal away our attention.

Ah, the magic of technology—hopefully no brain tumors were acquired during the process.

This internet commercial circulated across the world wide web like a virus. I received it myself and wasn’t sure what do believe. Hoax or not, I look at my cell phone a little differently now. So, although highly entertaining, was this video “commercial” effective at selling Cardo Systems, or did it just scare a lot of unsuspecting, naïve viewers?

No comments: