The ring to freedom

On our 68th birthday, a tribute to one of the most liberating inventions ever. This quiz is dedicated to the mobile phone.

1 The first automated cellular network was launched in Japan by NTT in 1979. Which was the first nation to launch a 2G cellular network in 1991?

2 In July 2015, the Russian government released a public safety video and a series of leaflets about one specific danger. Over a dozen deaths and hundreds of reported injuries from which activity prompted these safety instructions?

3 In 2015, Magnolia films released Tangerine, a film starring Kiki Rodriguez and James Ransone. It had premiered earlier at the Sundance Film Festival this year. What is unique about this theatrical release?

4 Texting has created a whole new subculture of acronyms and codes, and some like ‘lol’ and ‘afaik’ have entered the mainstream. What would be conveyed by the message ‘Cd9’?

5 In 2013, the Vatican used a specific structure to shield the Sistine Chapel from electronic eavesdropping and secret mobile messages when the papal enclave to select the next pope was on. After which scientist is this structure, used to completely block out cellular signals, named?

6 In what way was the Sharp J-SH04 camera, released in 2001, a first in mobile phone history?

7 On February 8, 2014, which hugely popular mobile game was removed from download sites by creator Dong Nguyen as he felt it was distracting and wasteful? Surely, a first in the mobile gaming industry.

8 The Nokia 8110 was one of the first high-end ‘slider’ phones. It was also known as the ‘banana’ phone because of its prominent curvature. After which film in the ’90s did the phone gain a cult following ?

9 The popularity of ‘selfies’ has spawned a huge number of other mobile phone photo themes. What’s the difference between a ‘belfie’ and a ‘welfie?’

10 In January 2015, which organisation launched a safety app for women called ‘Himmat?’

Answers

1. Finland. It was launched by Radiolinja on the new GSM standard. Nokia’s worldwide domination of the market had a lot to do with the development

2. Taking selfies. Particularly at risk were ‘roofers’, who got on to tall structures to take selfies, and train-track selfies

3. First film released in theatres which was shot completely on the iPhone 5s

4. Code 9 signals that parents are around. Cd 99 is used once the coast is clear

5. Faraday Cages, named after the British inventor Michael Faraday

6. It was the first production phone with a built-in camera. Camera phones became so popular that by 2006, Nokia was the world’s largest producer of mobile devices

7. Flappy Bird. Apparently Nguyen has had a change of heart and there is a new version in the works

8. Matrix. It was the phone used in the first Matrix film. Later films had in-film tie-ups with Samsung, which provided the phone for Matrix Reloaded

9. A ‘belfie’ is a picture of one’s derriere, a ‘welfie’ is a selfie taken while working out

10. The Delhi Police. The UP government is planning a similar app, to be titled ‘Nirbhaya’

Joy Bhattacharjya is a quizmaster and Project Director, FIFA U-17 World Cup

Follow Joy on Twitter @joybhattacharj

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