As some of my friends will tell you, I hate talking on the phone. However, the Jerk-o-Meter may make me change my mind.

For now, the Jerk-O-Meter is set up to monitor the user’s end of the conversation. If his attention is straying, a message pops up on the phone that warns, “Don’t be a jerk!” or “Be a little nicer now.” A score closer to 100 percent would prompt, “Wow, you’re a smooth talker.”

However, the Jerk-O-Meter also could be set up to test the voice on the other end of the line. Then it could send the tester such reports as: “This person is acting like a jerk. Do you want to hang up?”

Not that I’d use it on my friends, mind you. But my husband is fair game, don’t you think?