FTC To Revisit Robocall Menace

coondoggie writes "While there are legal measures in place to stop most robocalls, the use of the annoying automated calling process seems to be on the rise. The Federal Trade Commission, which defined the rules that outlawed most robocalls in 2009 has taken notice and this October 18th will convene a robocall summit to examine the issues surrounding what even it called the growing robocall problem." A true robocall summit would be a great way to field candidates for the Loebner Prize! But since these will be humans (regulators, etc), I hope, but doubt, they can somehow do something to stop the constant fraudulent robocalls I get from credit-card scammers. In the meantime, it's good to keep a whistle handy.

Enter: The Robo Answering Machine

[Maximum Prophet]

We need an answering machine that can use voice recognition to detect real callers, and forward them to your cordless/cell phone, and keep the sales calls in voice jail hell.

1. RAM: Hello
2. Salesguy: Hello, I'm calling from ****
3. RAM: I'm listening
4. Salesguy: Our pills are the best pills there are
5. RAM: Tell me more
6. Salesguy: They cure gout, baldness, and cancer.
7. RAM: Go on

...

The Robo Answering Machine scripts wouldn't even need to be that interactive. As long as the device could detect when the salesguy was speaking, and respond with a random interogative or prompt. There could even be contests to generate the best scripts.

Whistle damaged hearing?

[djl4570]

I find it hard to believe that POTS supports the dynamic range needed to damage someone's hearing.