Battery-powered Cigarettes? 608
Roland Piquepaille writes "According to Ananova, a Swiss company has developed a totally new type of smoke-free cigarette. You will be able to use it in non-smoking restaurants, and even in airplanes -- if you care for nicotine. But the PRAVDA, from Russia, adds that the product is far from perfect. It looks like a cigarette, it's used as a cigarette, but it's not a cigarette at all. Each pseudo-cigarette consists of a replaceable 'filter' containing the nicotine, and a heating element working on a battery, recharged by the 'pack' of cigarettes. The company, NicStic, says its product is good for smokers because it doesn't contain any tar, and for non-smokers, because there is obviously not passive smoking effect. It plans to introduce the product in Germany in about a year for a price similar as normal cigarettes. This overview contains more details about this pseudo-cigarette which might be sold in the U.S. in the near future."
uhh... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:uhh... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:uhh... (Score:5, Funny)
..."it tasted like sh*t. Literally!"...
Literally?! And who was qualified to make that evaluation? Flys? Puppies? Oh, of course - tobacco executives.
but (Score:4, Funny)
oh, and first post or something.
Re:but (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:but (Score:5, Funny)
Re:but (Score:5, Funny)
Second hand smoke DOES NOT kill non-smokers (Score:4, Informative)
> You do alot more than piss off the non-smokers, you kill them. Please stop.
Bullshit. [sho.com]
Re:Second hand smoke DOES NOT kill non-smokers (Score:3, Informative)
There is good scientific evidence that secondhand smoke exposure increases the risk of heart attack in the general population.
I'll raise you two... (Score:3, Informative)
Re:I'll raise you two... (Score:5, Funny)
Nasty habbitses, stealing my precious lungs.
It depends (Score:5, Insightful)
Think of it this way: Big Macs are unhealthy. Cyanide is also unhealthy. The difference is that eating one Big Mac isn't going to kill you. Cigarettes are unhealthy like Big Macs. If you smoke, quit, and if you don't smoke, don't start. But at the same time, don't freak out over every cubic millimeter of cigarette smoke that happens to touch you.
Re:It depends (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:It depends (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:It depends (Score:3, Interesting)
It is also possible that
Re:Second hand smoke DOES NOT kill non-smokers (Score:4, Insightful)
I'm not even on the side of the smokers, but I'm definately not on your side. I have a young relative with Cystic Fibrosis, and if we're in a situation where her breathing might become impaired, she'll don a mask. We've either asked people to politely quit smoking, or leave if it was at the end of our meal. When we're sick ourselves and handling her, we'll don masks ourselves.
But mandate laws around you? Grow a backbone and quit whining on a web site.
Re:but (Score:3, Insightful)
I don't have a problem with being a courteous smoker, but at the same time non-smokers are getting unreasonable. I don't violate non-smoking areas. If I'm at a non-smoker's house, I'll go outside to smoke. I do my best to make sure that I stay downwind of non-smokers when I smoke outside. Anti-tobacco militants have gone off the deep end.
For example, passing laws that make it illegal to smoke in a bar. IN A BAR FOR GOD'S SAKE!!!! Next they'll
Re:but (Score:3, Insightful)
Seriously though, I've never been a smoker, and frankly I don't like the things. I really don't: I get physically ill if the smoke gets too thick. Honestly, if every smoker in the world decided, on their own, to just quit tomorrow that would be fine by me.
However, I do object to the anti-smoking witch hunting I see going on right now. Raising taxes, making it illegal to smoke in BARS and so forth. I see this as a sort of neo-P
Re:but (Score:5, Insightful)
I suppose that's why I get a severe asthma attack from second hand smoke. The only other thing that gives me as bad an attack are sulfites [fda.gov] - used to be used to preserve fresh foods. No longer generally recommended as safe. (GRAS)
But hey, I guess decades of studies could be wrong. Perhaps you know better.
Or perhaps you are simply in denial. Apply Occam's razor liberally over affected area until delusions subside. If conditions worsen, please see your local FDA [fda.gov] representative.
-Adam
Re:but (Score:3, Insightful)
The allergy tests I had years ago (million pricks on the back) did not test for tobacco smoke or sulfites.
The only asthma attacks I get are from cigarette smoke and when I have a bad illness. The smoke incidents are much more critical. My asthma does not appear to be triggered by any of the other things I'm allergic to.
Many allergens are not avoidable, but tobacco does not 'naturally' dry out and burn of its own accord. I conten
Re:but (Score:3, Insightful)
Nope, no more dangerous than sucking bus exhaust, inhaling sewer gas, or hanging out near the wrong end of a fume hood. You know, the kind of stuff most people try to work into their daily schedule.
I'm not familiar with any person like that. Sure, they might ask the people at their table, but they never bother with the groups downwind.
You worried about your job... (Score:3, Interesting)
There is a reason why tobacco is "politically acceptable substance to hate". There still may be some debate as to what second hand smoke does to people, but there is ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT that the smokers themselves are at increased risk of enphesyma and cancer and that by smoking you shorten your life considerably. As such, more people are quitting smoking and fewer start at all.
Regardless of what science says about health dangers of second hand smoke, you CANNOT DISPUTE that just
Re:You worried about your job... (Score:3, Insightful)
And I agree that non-smokers tend to consider smoking is a nuisance. But I also think that short pants on anyone over the age of 13 are a nuisance. I don't presume to legislate over either issue:-)
Regarding the load on government-funded health care a) the government shouldn't be in that business in the first place and b) economic studies have shown that the net effect is positive: higher
A democratic republic... (Score:3, Informative)
Doesn't democracy play an important role in a democratic republic? In my observation the US holds elections on every damn thing to do with government. Today, you are electing the President, congressmen, sentaors, judges, public commissioners, voting on propositions, etc etc etc.
Seems to m
Re:but (Score:4, Funny)
Re:but (Score:5, Informative)
That's not tar, that's candle soot from unburned wax. Cigarettes do not deposit candle soot in your lungs. A better thing to have him do is cut open the filter after smoking the cigarette. Then again, that never stopped ME...
Re:but (Score:3, Interesting)
Did you notice that the world smells like crap too? It's all a matter of scale & personal preference.
> You want to work on your personal cancer project, fine.
Thanks for your permission, but I suggest you drop the whole "holier-than-thou" attitude if you ever expect to get anywhere in life. Once you are rich, however, you can afford to regain that trait.
> I don't want to be a voluntee
Re:but (Score:3, Insightful)
Allow me to tell it like it is. (Score:3)
Admit it. You're an addict. You couldn't stop if you tried. Getting your buzz is more important to you than pissing off every non-smoker in your vincinity by stinking up their clothes and filling their air with crap. And you'll pay through the nose and ruin your health and that of anyone unfortunate enough to live with you to do so.
You can cop an attitude all you want, but it won't cover up the fact that you're that cancer stick's bitch.
Re:but (Score:3, Insightful)
What a load of crap.
The ultimate test of freedom is standing up for it in the face of what is wrong.
I am a very outspoken Libertarian ideologically (maybe moderate/conservative in a practical sense, but striving toward a gradual implementation of libertarianism in the big picture). But even I cannot stand by and let someone "exercise their personal rights" while I have to walk through a cloud of smoke, which t
no for typical smokers (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:no for typical smokers (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:no for typical smokers (Score:4, Interesting)
For a while, the cigarette companies experiemnted trying to make a "safer" cigarette. I saw a special on TV about it, and the one I remember involved painting pretty much pure nicotine on the inside of a glass tube along with glycerine or something else that produced harmless smoke when burned. The smoker then would play a lighter underneath the glass tube while inhaling, giving him harmless, high dosages of nicotine. The only real problem with this was you looked like a crackhead.
Interactions? (Score:5, Funny)
Is it ok to smoke regular cigarettes and this at the same time?
Re:Interactions? (Score:2)
It's a sad state of affairs when Big Tobacco can legally sell such an addictive substance while only having to pay the measly price of some recent legal action and anti-smoking ads targeted towards those they used to target all their ads at...
Bah! (Score:3, Insightful)
And while Tobacco's nasti
Re:Interactions? (Score:3)
where do i get (Score:5, Funny)
Michael Shilling for RR (Score:5, Interesting)
Roland is just using slashdot to direct traffic to his shitty weblog, and now he even has his own domain!
How much is michael getting on the side to plug this guy?
Re:Michael Shilling for RR (Score:5, Funny)
Oh, and the Walrus is Paul.
Re:Michael Shilling for RR (Score:3)
Not as cool (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Not as cool (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Not as cool (Score:2)
Re:Not as cool (Score:2)
Re:Not as cool (Score:2)
but I'll bet it'll be a real hit with crack and ice smokers.
Nice and stealthy, smoke your drugs right out in public without the stigma of that nasty old crackpipe.
Re:My 2 cents (Score:2)
More likely, one of your friends tried it because they wanted to look cool to an older sibling, or maybe even because they liked the buzz (which to me was always the worst part about smoking...i was a much happier smoker when the buzz stopped), but everyone else did it because they wanted to fit in. This is the same reason kids that age do almost everything they do.
news? (Score:2)
such smokeless-'smokes' have been around for years..
(along with gum and whatever..)
why it's better than gum or patches? you still get to suck something tiny between your lips.
May not work (Score:3, Interesting)
This cannot provide that - maybe people will use this when they fly or in places where they cannot use normal cigarettes, but is definitely not going to be a popular substitue for cigarettes.
Besides, cigarettes have an illusion of being "cheap" and easily available. Not to mention the perceived (albeit ill-placed) "coolness factor".
Re:May not work (Score:2)
Not really (Score:4, Insightful)
A better solution would be to force the tobacco companies to sell Nicotine free cigarettes. Not that they ever will. I remember a story in Wired where the only people who would grow them were the Amish. After all, what multi-national corp in its right mind would take out what makes its product popular? The funny thing is Nicotine is odorless and tasteless, so taking it out wouldn't hurt the 'cool, crisp' taste of your smokes one bit, but you might just loose your reason for smoking along the way...
Re:Not really (Score:2)
Your solution will never come to fruition, not just for the reasons that you mentioned but because even if the tobac
Re:Not really (Score:3, Insightful)
Take that sentence and do the following things:
and it's still true.
With all the public smoking bans going up around the country, I came up with a great idea that would help non-smokers and smokers alike. Here's the idea:
Re:Not really (Score:3, Interesting)
Nicotine is a peculiar drug/poison. It's toxicity is extremely high. A single drop of pure nicotine place in the palm of an average adult will cause convulsions and death in minutes (the amount absorbed through the skin is more than sufficient to kill.)
Nicotine acts as others have said, in some ways like a stimulant and in other ways like a depressant. It has been noted by neurochemists and brain physiologist to "Tune" certain br
New moochers (Score:5, Funny)
Won't stick around (Score:2)
Re:Won't stick around (Score:2)
Also, if these packs/cigarrets are battery powered and refillable or something like that, they maybe less likely to become litter.
Bad idea (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Bad idea (Score:5, Interesting)
That's a terrible position to take, unless you think that smokers somehow morally "deserve" the health problems they end up with. Obviously, if we could reduce the health effects of nicotine addiction to insignficant levels, then smoking wouldn't have to be a big deal. Even reducing them slightly might mean that those who are addicted have a better chance of living longer and more happy lives.
How on earth could that be a bad thing?
Re:Bad idea (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Bad idea (Score:4, Insightful)
Why? If nicotine isn't harmful in and of itself, what's wrong with someone voluntarily using it? Nobody seems to complain about caffeine addiction after all.
Cheap as a normal cigarette? (Score:3, Interesting)
Yeah you are missing the taxes (Score:5, Interesting)
ObSimp. (Score:2)
Kinda like the sauce with cocktail weenies. "It looks like ketchup, it tastes like ketchup, but brother, it aint ketchup."
But seriously, isn't this just a cigarette-sized version of the old vaporizers [vaporwarehouse.com]?
Its been tried? (Score:2, Interesting)
This is a bomb. People smoke because its a habitual ticking nerosis.. They like the way smoke feels entering and leaving them, ritual. Not necessarily the direct effect.
Course its all open for debate.
Re:Its been tried? (Score:2)
Re:Its been tried? (Score:2)
There's exceptions.
Do a search for "The Swedish Effect".
Regards,
--
*Art
Old news... (Score:5, Informative)
Available today, here in the US: (Score:3, Informative)
Eclipse Cigarettes by RJ Reynolds [rjrt.com]
You light it like a normal cigarette, but what you're actually lighting is a graphite rod that burns slowly and provides heat. Then then you inhale it heats up a packet of tobbaco which releases nicotine and water vapor but that's about it. (It works like a vaporizer)
No smoke, just water vapor and a different taste, and all that sweet sweet nicotine!
Re:Old news... (Score:3, Informative)
At the beginning of the film, Johnson first tries the premier, which was receiving poor reviews and which was described as "tastes like shit, smells like a fart." When Johnson noted that the draw on the cigarette was wrong (difficult) and the RJR scientist said that was the "hernia effect"
Nothing new. (Score:2)
THe exciting thing about this product is that it is small enough and inconspicuous enough to use like a normal cig, but without the smoke.
The current nictone subsitutes (gums and patches) are really expensive, so this could be a much more afordable way to help addicts stop putting gunk in their lungs.
Not new? (Score:3, Interesting)
A cigarette with no tobacco, and with this red glowing thing at the end. Looked like a real cigarette too.
They had high hopes for it, but guess what happened? They weren't allowed to sell it, on the grounds that it was essentially a device to administer dosages of a strong drug.
I don't remember the details, but i'm sure someone could google around and find some.
Re:Not new? (Score:2)
http://www.fact-index.com/p/pr/premier_cigarette. h tml [fact-index.com]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_cigarette [wikipedia.org]
I'm not entirely sure if this is the same thing. And apparently, they have tried a similar concept more recently, calling it "Eclipse".
Diet Cigarettes (Score:2, Insightful)
This sounds like a pretty cool product. I wonder how sales would be regulated here in the US... could you sell something like this to minors?
This is so cool... (Score:4, Funny)
Don't get me wrong; I'm not addicted to nicotine. I've quit hundreds of times!
Already Done (Score:3, Informative)
Google
Barbarians at the Gate: The Fall of RJR Nabisco
No passive smoking effect? (Score:3, Insightful)
1) User of this new contraption breathes a lung-full of nicotine-air mixture.
2) Some of the nicotine from the air is deposited in user's lungs, providing whatever pleasures smokers get from it.
3) The rest of the nicotine-air mixture (although a bit less concentrated) is expelled from user's lungs and into the surrounding atmosphere.
4) An anonymous non-smoking bystander breathes some of the remaining nicotine that the user expelled a few moments.
5) Some of the nicotine is deposited in his lungs against his will.
No passive smoking effect? Yeah right...
(I don't smoke if you haven't figured that out yet)
Re:No passive smoking effect? (Score:3, Insightful)
Like the SUV you drive doesn't force toxic gasses into my lungs!
If you want it to stop, either help private space companies get us the hell out of here, or move to boulder, co.
Eclipse (Score:2, Informative)
http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9606/03/cigarette/ [cnn.com]
Still not a safe cigarette (Score:3, Interesting)
Tobacco's toxic properties have been well known. How does Marijuana compare?
Re:Still not a safe cigarette (Score:3, Informative)
That is why they completely elimanated the tobacco. RTFA next time before you post!!
Re:Still not a safe cigarette (Score:3, Informative)
Depends on what properities you mean (Score:3, Informative)
As for the active ingrediants (nicotine vs THC) it also depends on what you mean. THC is essentially non-toxic in terms of killing you, you'd be hard pressed to OD on it. Nicotine, on the other hand, is quite toxic. However obviously, in standard concentrations
It's all synthetic now (Score:2, Insightful)
This was done in 1988. (Score:3, Informative)
http://www.fact-index.com/p/pr/premier_cigarette.h tml
It failed badly. For one, consumers didn't like it. Two, it was deemed a drug delivery system and not a cigarette. That not only complicated sales from a legal distribution POV, but it meant the tobacco companies were admitting that nicotine was addictive and that they were addicting their clients, thus opening them up for lawsuits.
Smoking is actually nice... (Score:4, Interesting)
Seriously. It was nice and relaxing. The only reason I stopped was because, obviously, it's not that great for you.
But at least something like this makes it so that if you want the effect of nicotine, you don't have to shell out $40 for a pack of nicotine gum.
Yeah, nicotine isn't GOOD for you, but neither is alcohol and people still do that. At least this isn't nearly as bad as inhaling all that tar and smoke!
There will always be a passive effect... you exhale the nicotine, surely someone near you would inhale a part of it, but still, better than cigarettes themselves.
Good improvement!
Re:Smoking is actually nice... (Score:3, Informative)
I agree wholeheartedly--getting rid of the tar, particulates, and carcinogens produced by combustion definitely goes a long way towards harm reduction.
On the other hand, it should be noted that moderate consumption of alcohol isn't bad for most people. There is significant epidemiological data that indicates consumption of up to about one to two drinks
how does this beat the nicotine patch? (Score:2)
I bet this is much bigger in Europe and Asia than in the U.S., since smoking carries less stigma over there. That's probably why it's being introduced in Germany rather than here.
Just friggin' QUIT, already! (Score:2)
I promised three years ago that after quitting smoking I wouldn't become a preachy ex-smoker, but I don't think anyone would incredulously look upon my claim that my life is much, much better without cigarettes in it. I could go on about it ad nauseum, but I won't.
Variantions... (Score:2)
Great... (Score:2)
Governments will start taxing batteries at 1800% and EVERYONE will suffer.
Support your local smoker, friends, or else...
Eclipse (Score:4, Interesting)
Generally speaking, innovations made in producing a 'healthy cigarette' usually involve a lot of cost, but these cigarettes are usually sold at the same price as Marborlo Lights. They also come in menthol.
With 80% less additives, I think I'll stick to these unless the new battery-powered cigarettes actually end up cheaper.
It's a dream come true! (Score:3, Insightful)
They make a sort of cig like this in the US (Score:3, Interesting)
They aren't smokeless, but definatly noteworthy. They look like a normal cig, but have a heating element that you initially light with a lighter. I think its a carbon filament, so it burns quite hot for about 4 minutes, and while its hot, you can "smoke" the tobacco in the tube. Note that there are no ashes becuase nothing besides tobacco is burned, and the "cig" never shrinks down like a normal one. Also, when you exhale, it is quite wierd... its like you are exhaling water. The cig pack says its mostly a glycerol mix instead of the normal tar laden smoke.
Quit smoking! It stinks! (Score:3, Informative)
People that smoke, STINK..
I smoked 3 packs a day, full tilt, until the day I quit, Dec. 26, 1998..
I smoked from the time I was 14 until I quit at 37.
So, I'm fully qualified to BITCH at people about smoking.
Nicotine is a poison. They used to (and may still) put it in Black Flag roach poison.
Look it up if you don't believe me.
And the stench is unbearable. I have several friends that smoke and when they bring their computers over for me to work on I have to leave them plugged in and running in my garage for at least two days to get the stench out of them before bringing them inside. ALL of their stuff is PISS yellow, keyboards, mice, monitors all gunked up and sticky.
Yuck!..
One guy just brought me his computer because the power supply burned out. Why? Smoke. The nicotine gunked up the cooling fan in the power supply so badly that it quit spinning and the power supply burned up. He's lucky, wait until the fan on his CPU does the same thing.
The inside of his computer is DISGUSTINGLY filthy. I hate to even touch it it's so nasty.
And when I go to any of my smoking friends houses, I have to take my clothes of in the garage and drop them straight into the washer or they will make my house stink. I have to take a shower right away after I get home, it makes my hair stink, everything. And that's just from being in the house where they smoke, and they don't smoke while I'm there!
When they pull out some cigarettes I tell them "Oh, time for a suicide stink stick eh?"
And for those that dip or chew tobacco, ever seen someone with mouth cancer? It's enough to make you vomit. The sight is worse than anything you would see in a horror movie.
I hate going to the store where people throw their stinking butts on the ground, the entrance at the stores stink, it's like walking through a gas chamber just trying to get into the store..
I think they should make tobacco totally illegal, the use, sale, growth, purchase, etc.. Get caught using tobacco, go to jail, felony, 1 year 1st offense.
Get caught selling tobacco, charge, attempted murder, penalty, DEATH. 1st offense..
Re:Quit smoking! It stinks! (Score:3, Informative)
I smoked an average of one pack a day from age 11 until February 10, 2002.
My children visit their grandmother's house and I wash their clothes IMMEDIATELY after then come home. I can smell tobacco smoke on them in a strong breeze. I am constantly bothering my mom about quitting.
There is nothing good than can be said about smoking that can counter the bad shit that can be said about smoking.
Is Roland Piquepaille the new John Katz??? (Score:3, Funny)
As you know, nature abhors a vacuum...
Pravda?!! (Score:3, Funny)
And no, this is not a troll...
Re:I'll say this anonymously (Score:5, Informative)
Don't smoke.....
You still die.
It is just a matter of time and place.
Re:Smokeless... (Score:4, Funny)