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The Tongue Twisting Tooth Microphone

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the if-you-get-two-it-records-in-stereo dept.

dylanduck writes "New Scientist has found a patent for a microphone that clips on your tooth, meaning you can stay in radio contact even the noisiest situations - like warzones. You use your tongue to flip it on and off. Here is the patent itself. The same article mentions a blimp that launches like a rocket."

5 of 184 comments (clear)

  1. War zone? by heavy+snowfall · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I'll keep that in mind the next time I enter a war-zone. Like Henrico County, VA.

    On a more serious note, this looks really interesting for diving. But it's just a patent, so I don't have too much faith in a product being released.

    --
    Use your bluetooth phone as a modem for Linux

  2. A new combat injury by Stephen+Samuel · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I can see a lot of special forces soldiers suddenly biting their tongue in battle. Preventing that injury is probably going to be the subject of yet another patent.

    --
    Free Software: Like love, it grows best when given away.
  3. Patents patents ... by karvind · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Two other websites about stupid patents:

    Patently Silly

    Totally Absurd Inventions America's Goofiest Patents!

  4. Design flaws? by Cave_Monster · · Score: 3, Interesting
    I really wonder how effective this mic would be. How is it affected by food, saliva, smoke, water etc? If it's highly susceptible to damage from these substances then that would require you to continually be taking it in and out of your mouth. What a hassle and highly prone to getting lost. What about if you accidentally swallowed it? Is that dangerous? And can it damage your teeth if, for example, you bit down really hard?

    None of these issues really get addressed in the article, not to mention the ease at switching it on and off. Those listening to the transmission could be deeply traumatised by what they hear :)

  5. Re:Good point by The+Evil+Couch · · Score: 3, Interesting
    True enough. The ASIPS kicks the crap out of the old SINGCARS radio, being roughly half the size and weight and improved features, and even the ASIPS is getting up in age. I think it's been out for something like 7 years. While miniaturizing radios is always a step in the right direction, something I've always seen Platoon Leaders doing (except the one previous to my current one, worthless cherry) is having two hand-mikes up at a time. While sometimes confusing, having a pair of radio handsets clipped to the helmet is pretty easy and makes communicating on seperate radio nets relatively simple.

    Sticking multiple switches in someone's mouth would probably suck.

    Getting access to the PL's radios in case he gets hit or completely spazes out under fire and starts giving retarded orders would be a problem if they were connected to his mouth, though.

    I mean, I could *say* I was punching the PL in the mouth so I could get access to his radios, but I don't think they'd let me keep my squad afterwards. :p

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    The World's Worst Webcomic!