Imagine trying to fall asleep while your neighbor is arguing violently on the phone or your partner is laughing in a nearby room. Or you try in vain to enjoy your morning drink near a digital nomad in the middle of a virtual meeting in your small local café. If you’ve ever dreamed of being able to shut up an intruder, this strange invention might please you… or leave you doubtful.
Technological innovations come in handy for providing solutions to a whole host of new problems. This is what the Japanese company Shiftall has understood, which develops and ensures the mass production of connected objects mainly intended to facilitate teamwork. The company has developed an innovative microphone that isolates the user’s voice and which, in addition to reducing ambient noise in sound pickup, serves mainly to reduce the sound volume it produces, so as not to disturb people. around.
The technological application of a strange acoustic phenomenon
This innovative object can meet the expectations of a wide range of users, it can be useful for making calls discreetly, or participating in a virtual meeting in a public place. During normal conversations when the speech frequency is standard, the device reduces the volume by 20 decibels, making the exchange impossible to hear for an outside person, even if they are located right next to it. But, when the words get hot, like during a game of video games for example, and the tone rises at the same time as the speaking (or shouting) frequency, Mutalk switches to a reduction of 30 decibels, for the comfort of each.
The gadget uses the principle of Helmholtz resonance, which occurs when air resonates within a hollow object. You may have already produced it by blowing into the neck of a bottle. This acoustic phenomenon allows it to effectively attenuate noise despite its small size.
The microphone is easy to use, connects to your smartphone or computer, and can even be fitted with a removable strap for hands-free use. Only downside, its curious design which could put off some and its price, 200 dollars. But for the moment, it is not available in France, enough to let others try it…