As Chinese news site Xinhua tells the story of the death of Ma Ailun, a woman in northwest China who was allegedly electrocuted while using an iPhone 5, the internet debates if it is possible for your smartphone produce a lethal electric shock..
Weibo, the microblogging website in China similar to Twitter was full of ideas as to the possibilities that caused the woman's death and warnings of not to use your phone while charging.
Here in the US websites such as CNN on Monday posed the question, "Can you be electrocuted by your smartphone?"
CNN quotes Scott Wolfson, communications director for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, "it is a rare occurrence for there to be a safety incident with a cell phone."
Could it have been a case of water and electricity coming together? The victim's family said online that she left the bath to answer the phone.
One theory that has been mentioned often is the possibility of uncertified power chargers as reported in this Wall Street Journal article.
Smartphones are low voltage devices. The chances of one creating a lethal electric shock seems very unlikely. All the reports from Chinese news agencies state that the cause of death is still under investigation.
The death of the 23-year-old woman is tragic. When the circumstances are something out of the ordinary the speculation as to the cause of death is fuel for many internet debates and urban legends.
via Examiner National Edition Gadgets & Tech Channel Articles http://www.examiner.com/article/internet-speculates-how-smartphone-could-produce-lethal-electric-shock?cid=roadrunner