Hobs output >2 kW, phones just... don’t (edit: i.e range of magnetic field is longer)

I'd expect the "receiver"/pot to deform the field enough as to not matter anymore at those distances. Plus, inductive hobs around here tend to detect the presence of a pot and not just try pumping 2kW of energy into "nothing". And you're comparing a dynamically pulsed EM field with the static M field of the alignment magnets - they might be able to heat the reed, but might just not be able actually trigger it (edit: to clarify, that's my guess; I'd expect manufacturers of either devices [ICDs and hobs] to test for potentially lethal problems).

How many people put their phone in their "upper pockets"? Or even have "upper pockets"?

Many men?

If you are wearing a suit, a smartphone makes the trouser pockets bulge a lot, so it's common to keep it in your shirt pocket or jacket inside pocket - Both of which is next to your heart.

The FDA [1] advises "don’t carry the phone in a shirt or jacket pocket directly over the pacemaker." as well as the American Heart Association [2] "Avoid keeping your cell phone in your front chest pocket."

1: https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/cell-phones/... 2: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/arrhythmia/prevention...

They can advise as much as they want, people just do it anyways.

Same with smoking, drinking, taking drugs, etc.

One hopes people with a device keeping them alive would have an incentive to follow instructions, especially if it doesn't involve addictive substances. They also get told to avoid metal detectors, and they know to do this, so it's probably, hopefully, an easy habit to change

I just realised after posting this that I wear a denim battle vest 99% of the time and this does in fact have an upper pocket. Oops.

And quite a lot of shirts do as well.

Perhaps it is time for the codpiece to make a comeback in male business attire, updated for modern times to include a phone pouch.

The CodCo JunkKeeper™ Tactical Codpiece features heavy duty military-grade nylon webbing, patented SafeSack™ zipper technology, hammer loop, tape measure holster, and copper mesh Faraday-caged phone pocket to keep your swimmers largely unmutated!

My grandfather always does.

He doesn't have a pacemaker, but it may not be as unreasonable of a thing as you might assume.

You mean like in an inside jacket pocket in parts of the world where it actually gets cold? A lot.

You mean the one the pocket protector goes in with your drafting pencil and calculator (well, phone in this day and age)?

I do. I don't leave it there generally, but its often easier to get my phone in and out of my shirt pocket when I am seated, crouched, or otherwise actively engaged with something and I don't want to stand up.

A lot of newer (like, last 5-6 years?) jackets have an outer upper chest pocket.

ex: https://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=3397220020504&...

It's the most convenient place for a phone on your person.

Easier than pants pockets if you're sitting down. No fumbling with inside jacket pockets. And you can use your "normal" jacket pockets to keep your hands warm without worrying about your phone falling out.

Winter coats very often have upper pockets and they are perfect for big smartphones.