SAR

acronym.

Specific absorption rate: the rate at which the electromagnetic radiation emissions from a cell phone or other wireless device are absorbed by bodily tissue.

Example Citation:

Beginning in December, cell-phonemakers will put this SAR number somewhere inside the booklet that explains how to use the phone. Higher-powered phones will have SARs approaching the maximum, while phones with lower SARs will necessarily have less power.

— Tom Abate, "Cell Phones Probed For Double Trouble," The San Francisco Chronicle, October 23, 2000

Earliest Citation:

For handheld cellular telephones, at least 5 [sic] factors must be taken into account in determining whether transmitter falls within guidelines: (1) Power output of antenna. (2) Frequency in which transmitter operates (higher frequency ones would be required to operate with lower power outputs). (3) Distance of transmitter from people, as well as area, density and location of tissue that receives RF radiation (referred to by scientists as specific absorption rate — SAR). (4) Average time of use of transmitter.

— "FCC proposes new RF emission guidelines for all regulated transmitters," Communications Daily, March 12, 1993

Related Words:

cell yell

DWY

earset

stage-phoning

thumb culture

t-ray

yell phone

Category:

Cell Phones