White and gold dress again? Sonic device takes us down conundrum lane

The device gives out a continuous, high-pitched ringing sound that can be heard by some

Social media users will remember the viral picture of a dress back in 2015 that threw people into a state of massive confusion.

The world tried to decide whether the dress was white and gold or blue and black. Following that, in 2018, a recording hit the world with the same storm, this time making them decided whether they heard “yanny” or “laurel.”

What colour is this dress that broke the internet?



It seems that another technology similar to these has existed since even before the dress: a sonic device.

This is a small speaker that has been placed within 30 parks and recreation centres in Philadelphia. The science behind it is similar to that of the yanny-laurel recording as it gives out a continuous, high-pitched ringing sound throughout nights that can supposedly only be heard by ages 13-25.



We gave the experiment a try and had mixed results. Many of us were able to hear the sound irrespective of age while many young people were unable to hear the sound.

Can you hear it? Listen here (30 seconds in)

Known as the Mosquito, it is manufactured by Moving Sound Technologies, which provides the device to around 20 park departments in the States, as mentioned by president Michael Gibson.

The Mosquito began to be used in Philadelphia parks in 2014 for the purpose of getting rid of loud, rough youth crowds at nights and thus, preventing vandalism.

The decision to use this device has been received with criticism.

"In a city that is trying to address gun violence and safe spaces for young people," said Philadelphia City Council member Helen Gym who is trying to get it removed, “how dare we come up with ideas that are funded by taxpayer dollars to turn young people away from the very places that were created for them?"

"It does feel a little [discriminatory] against teens," said 17-year-old Philadelphia resident Lamar Reed. "It makes us feel like animals. Not all teens are bad, just because we want to go outside for a breath of fresh air at night."



Though the age range that is not immune to the Mosquito’s noise is specified as 13-25, 27-year-old Mary Kate Riecks complains of headaches that she gets because she is able to hear the noise when on a walk at nights. "It almost is more like a feeling than a sound. It's kind of in the back of your head,” she said. Reicks is annoyed by this device so much so that she is working with her housemates to try and get it removed.

Though some parks in the US are doing away with the Mosquito, Philadelphia’s Parks & Recreation is adamant in supporting its use of the Mosquito, saying the devices work from 10 pm to 6 am only, and are just a part of a larger anti-vandalism scheme that involves fences and gates, security cameras and night watch staff.

The backlash doesn’t seem to be working as two new Mosquito devices are being installed at other city playgrounds as part of major renovation projects.

This article originally appeared on NPR.