The Tongue Twisting Tooth Microphone

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."

Comments

Hedwig and the Angry Inch

[vena]

interesting. in outtakes for the movie, the band's publicist had this for her cell phone. she would push the tooth with her tongue to answer the call.

Re:Hedwig and the Angry Inch

[heavy snowfall]

That would be a first nowadays: a patent with a working prototype.

--
Use your bluetooth phone as a modem for Linux

Re:Hedwig and the Angry Inch

[The Clockwork Troll]

Per the parent, I presently possess a patent pending pertaining to patents with prior prototypes.

Re:Hedwig and the Angry Inch

[Alex P Keaton in da]

A microphone that turns on with your tongue? I know of women who can get turned on with a tongue....

What all of /. is thinking:

[JoeLinux]

That is exactly what the Imperial Stormtroopers used to activate their microphone in Star Wars.

(For those of you who had no life in High School, we learned these things. Then wondered why we had no girlfriends.)

Re:What all of /. is thinking:

[Anonymous Coward]

And then we modded it interesting...

Re:What all of /. is thinking:

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, stormtrooper comms were just in the helmets; though the devices were controlled with the tongue, they don't have anything inside the mouth.

Re:What all of /. is thinking:

[mwilli]

And you are still wondering why you have no girlfriend.

Lead Inventor's name

[backslashdot]

Anjanappa, Muniswamappa

A person may have a mic in his mouth, but that's not going to help anyone trying to say this guy's name.

Re:Lead Inventor's name

[schtum]

I thought you were replying to the Star Wars thread above and read that in a Jabba the Hutt voice: "ANJA-nappa, MUNI-swamappa, CHEW-bacca. Ho, ho, ho."

Re:Lead Inventor's name

[the_wesman]

So I work for a large tech company that has a lot of Indian people on staff (lots of Russians too) and it always cracks me when people (usually stupid Americans) bitch about the Indian people's names being hard to pronounce. So, to you Mr. or Mrs. or Ms. backslashdot, here's a little clue: every language but English is phonetic. No other language has stupid rules where Y is 'sometimes' a vowel - where C is sometimes K - where "tongue" is pronounced "tung"

Don't be afraid of a name that is longer than "Bill Smith." Just because it has *gasp* more than 3 syllables, doesn't mean it's completely out of your league. You're probably just too stupid to try rather than too stupid to actually pronounce it.

So, here's this guy's name as you quoted it:
  Anjanappa, Muniswamappa

Here it is phonetically:
An-Ja-nap-pa, Mu-ni-swa-map-pa

Yes, a bit of familiarity with the languages in question will help you with the emphasis, but, in general, if you just say it one syllable at a time 2 or 3 times, the emphasis will present itself for you.

Good luck you goddamn chucklehead

Re:Lead Inventor's name

[alphafoo]

I remember this fellow from 15 years ago at my alma mater http://www.umbc.edu/. Here's his bio http://www.umbc.edu/engineering/me/appa.htm.

Re:Lead Inventor's name

[pyrrhonist]

Ha Ha, I've always wondered about how bad non-indians are at pronouncing Indian names

That's easy! It's because...

• It isn't apparent from the English spelling whether the vowels are short or long (e.g. Arush).
• It isn't apparent from the English spelling that there is supposed to be a tongue flap (e.g. Arush), because English doesn't have them.
• There are some sounds in many Indian dialects that native English speakers cannot pronounce, and will never be able to pronounce no matter how much training and practice the speaker receives (e.g. there is a sound in Hindi, which to a native English speaker sounds like it's between a hard "t" and a thorn, but which is not really pronounced that way).

when compared to the other way round,

Actually, most Indian people don't pronounce my name correctly either, because of the aforementioned "t" sound.

you guys just don't get it... do you!!

No we don't, actually. Even if we did, it's completely impossible for us to pronounce some names, simply because we can't make some of the sounds.

Re:Lead Inventor's name

[thePowerOfGrayskull]

Here it is phonetically: An-Ja-nap-pa, Mu-ni-swa-map-pa

You're right, very simple. Just one question: Would that be "Ahn Jah Nahp pah" or "An jay nape ah"? "Moo-nee-swah-mahp-pah" or "Mew-nih-swah-map-puh"?

I missed out

[VATechTigger]

now all those idiots with toungue peircings can go to job interviews and say that they are just antenae for their cell phones for the competitive edge.....

I think this is a first

[saskboy]

This is the first time anyone's wanted a "bug" in their mouth.

Thank you - I'm here all night!

Geeeth's with bwaceees rejoice!

[Nova Express]

Now rugged, he-men, special forces guys will lisp when they talk as well!

War zone?

[heavy snowfall]

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

Shock anyone much?

[ghstomahawks]

I can just see it, I want to talk to somebody so I flick my tooth on (wth?) and suddenly I feel a ginormous electric shock throughout my head. My cover is blown when everyone sees my hair immediately stand on end :-

at least thats what happens if I don't let truth get in my way ;)

This is basic Science Fiction made real.

[flogger]

John Steakly's book, Armor is the first book I read with this "technology". I love it when Life imitates Art.

Re:This is basic Science Fiction made real.

[maxbang]

Something similar is mentioned in Starship Troopers. Biting down opens different commlinks based on which side of your mouth you use. Or something like that, I can't remember exactly how that worked.

during sex?

[chris_mahan]

So what happens with this little device during various sex acts?

I know, this is slashdot. The only sex acts involve, what... Wives? eheh

Re:during sex?

[bedroll]

So what happens with this little device during various sex acts?

I was just thinking, if this has decent pick-up then it would take the porn industry by storm. Potentially clean sound without dubbing.

I know, this is slashdot. The only sex acts involve, what... Wives?

Well, now that I realize that I saw this and thought of porn before my wife I feel kinda bad... shucks.

Re:during sex?

[Alkind]

Before, during and after sex: the next patent is for a tooth speaker. Brand name: Cyrano. Advertised on Slashdot. With the first millions made it will be marketed for wider use: political party audiences, life sitcoms, board meetings, fake choirs.

Now to combine different tooth technology

[Anonymous Coward]

Crap! Which tooth was the radio and which tooth was the cyanide again?

Re:Now to combine different tooth technology

[FLEB]

Simple solution:

Try calling Emergency Services on both teeth. Same basic outcome both ways.

This is old news

[TummyX]

It's been around for a while.

Re:This is old news

[Frogbert]

Longer then you might think

The BlueTooth Tooth

[TinyManCan]

I wonder if this device is going to bring a new meaning to BlueTooth.

I saw it being used

[RNLockwood]

I saw it being used downtown on Monday, the guy didn't appear affluent enough for one but there he was, all by himself, carrying on a animated conversation with no cell phone or ear piece visible, drinking something in a paper sack.

Nate

Obligatory Real Genius....

[ToddML]

Mitch: "And Kent, one more thing..."

Kent: "Yes?"

Mitch: "Stop masturbating!"

Kent, looking up: "It really is God!"

A new combat injury

[Stephen Samuel]

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.

Re:A new combat injury

[rtaylor]

Mouse geastures work for browsers, so how about tongue gestures? Have a small sensor that detects motion and require moving the tongue in some pattern to activate and deactivate.

THEY HID THE MICROPHONE IN MY TEETH.

[mcc]

The Freemasons. That's where they put the tracking device. In my teeth. My dentist betrayed me. He was just part of the network. They do it to keep tabs on you-- know where you are, hear everything by secret frequency. At first it was just the ones they'd sent back from the future, but after Tager broke the secret they had to move on to the general public, to ensure the truth didn't spread. Once they got a taste of power they wanted more. The operations expanded. 10,000 Americans every year. Now everything is in preparation for the Colonization. They hear everything. They know where to attack, when. They know where we're weak. It will begin soon.

Shit, have to go, I think I see helicopters. If I do not post on this site again you will know what happened.

Patent Filed 4-6-05 however public domain prior

[Brigadier]

Now one would think if this was put in a movie prior to the filing of the patent thus placing it in the public domain. This patent should not have been issued no ?? thoughts ? anyone anyone ......

Re:Patent Filed 4-6-05 however public domain prior

[FLEB]

It wasn't real. It was a movie.

Re:Patent Filed 4-6-05 however public domain prior

[craXORjack]

How about when Gilligan got hit in the mouth accidently and his filling became a radio and the Professor tried to turn it into a transmitter to get them off the island?

Re:Patent Filed 4-6-05 however public domain prior

[Tim Browse]

Isn't that how it works though? You have to patent a device or mechanism. You can't just say "I have invented anti-gravity! And it will be controlled by a button on my belt. I 0wn j00!"

Er, or something.

Re:Patent Filed 4-6-05 however public domain prior

[Ahnteis]

Well, that's how patents SHOULD work. They should be for a specific implementation that is a NEW and ORIGINAL implementation.

Then you get the $$ for figuring out whatever it is you figured out.

Sadly, there are far too many general case patents out there now-a-days and that's one of the reasons you see such a large response on may /. patent stories.

I for one welcome our dentally implanted overlords

[billstewart]

I, for one, welcome our dentally implanted overlords!

Already spent too much on dental work this summer - sigh... Root canals are really annoying.

Cool, Reminds me of the Germans

[hobotron]

And their throat microphone that was widely used in their tank formations during World War II.

Patents patents ...

[karvind]

Two other websites about stupid patents:

Patently Silly

Totally Absurd Inventions America's Goofiest Patents!

Reminds me of Freeciv

[physicsphairy]

"New Scientist has found a patent for a microphone that clips on your tooth,"

It's just like an empire game!

"You found scrolls of ancient wisdom!"

"You found patent for modern technology!"

Good point

[Infonaut]

A lot of soldiers, particularly in the combat MOSes, chew tobacco. It's a nasty habit, and not particularly tactical (you can smell tobacco spit fairly easily, depending on the environment).

That said, this could be a real godsend for grunts. Hands-free is definitely where it's at. You need to be able to shoot, move, and communicate at all times. If you have to negate your ability to shoot even for a moment while you're communicating, it makes you vulnerable. The more distributed and essentially "always-on" communications becomes, the better.

Things are moving in the right direction. The concept of an RTO (radio telephone operator) who tags along with an officer, making both of them obvious targets, needs to disappear. The trick, of course, is effective miniaturization. This great, but it needs to be paired with long-range radios that are small enough to be part of a combat leader's load. No doubt the US military is spending a lot of money on just this sort of thing, and I'm sure there are spec ops units running around right now using commo equipment that blows doors on the stuff we had to use even ten years ago.

Re:Good point

[The Evil Couch]

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

Design flaws?

[Cave_Monster]

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 :)

Sound quality inside your mouth?

[aywwts4]

Seriously though, only a portion of our voices comes from our throat, the articulation is produced at the tounge and the lips, how is this going to sound when it picks up whats inside the mouth as well as what we actualy project And on headsets we sometimes have to worry about the terribly annoying com problem of listening to someone pant at lenght during shows. now do we get to hear him lick the inside of his mouth with sloppy gurgling noises just because he forgot to flip a switch with his tounge? Ick. Maybe for air traffic controllers, but its hard to imagine any use of this microphone outside of the most extreme conditions.

Patent pictures

[Palal]

For those that don't have quicktime installed:
Pic 1, Pic 2, Pic 3, Pic 4,
Pic 5, Pic 6, Pic 7, Pic 8,
Pic 9, Pic 10, Pic 11, Pic 12,

But is it...

[TheUnknownCoder]

bluetooth compatible?

Been done already?

[zekemacneil]

The same article mentions a blimp that launches like a rocket."

Oh, you mean the Hindenburg?

Re:Been done already?

[kureido]

Oh, you mean the Hindenburg?

Too soon!

Frank Herbert is saddened by us.

[Amiasian]

I'm surprised there hasn't been a Dune reference yet. Military applications of inter and intra-dental devices, you know. Anyways, wouldn't the inner shape of the mouth, combined with a lot of liquids and the constant need to breathe, plus the clicking of teeth and tongue during certain words, make this impractical?

Preposterous!

[The-Trav-Man]

Patenting prior prototype patents? Prepare post-cards protesting!

Oblig. Simpsons quote

[ton2fig]

        Burns: Now, before we adjourn, gentlemen, I have one last matter of utmost importance. I need to send this parcel with the profit projections to Pete Porter in Pasadena. And it absolutely, positively _has_ to be there overnight.
                        [hands the package to the man to his right]
        Man 1: Pete Porter, pass it on. [hands it on]
        Man 2: Pasadena promptly. [hand it on]
        Man 3: Package to parcel processing, pronto. [hands it to Smithers]
            [Smithers runs into the parcel processing room]
  Smithers: Forgot prende asked for highly pressing package of power plant profit projections for Pete Porter in Pasadena.
Attendant: Priority?
  Smithers: Precisely.

Re:Useful

[jigyasubalak]

A person will have to be a pretty good cunning-linguist
to operate that thing with one's tongue!

You Bastard!

[bennomatic]

> here's a little clue: every language but English is phonetic

My French teacher didn't think so. I just failed my midterms because of your "wisdom". Merci beaucoup!

Or as you would have me pronounce it, "Murr-kih bee-yow-cowp"

;-)

I don't un-der-stand

[AthenianGadfly]

Let's use the word 'understand' as a simple example. If you don't know the language, you would be hard-pressed to realize that it is made-up of just two syllables. If you try to pronounce it as 1, 3, 7, etc. sounds, it will be completely unintelligable.

You know, I speak English, and I'm still hard-pressed to realize that "understand" is made up of two syllables. But then, again it seems to make an awful lot of sense to me as three syllables, so I must just be confused. Or, as they say in Spanish when they want to use two syllables, nocomprend-o.

Pot, meet kettle

[Atario]

(usually stupid Americans) bitch about the Indian people's names being hard to pronounce. So, to you Mr. or Mrs. or Ms. backslashdot, here's a little clue: every language but English is phonetic. No other language has stupid rules where Y is 'sometimes' a vowel - where C is sometimes K - where "tongue" is pronounced "tung"

English is just as phonetic as all those others -- mainly because its spellings and pronunciations are derived from all those others. Your confusion arises because you don't know how (that?) different words in English come from different languages, and you need to treat each word with the rules of the language it came from for it to make sense.

Furthermore, your "{Americans|The English Language} sucks" argument is pretty much based on the very stupidity you claim to decry -- ignorance of pronunciation rules in different languages.

In short, educate yourself before you tell people you're smarter than them.