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New speech-jamming gun hints at dystopian Big Brother future

extremetech.com

1–10 of 32 posts

Re: New speech-jamming gun hints at dystopian Big Brother future

#2
From what I understand of the technology at play here, it seems like it could be defeated by a pair of earplugs (or, if you're in a conversation rather than a speech, then a microphone/headphone combination with an additional short delay) - though I'm by no means qualified in this area!

Still, even if there is a workaround, it seems impractical to wear all the time.

Re: New speech-jamming gun hints at dystopian Big Brother future

#4
post #3

It's not a speech-jamming gun at all. It's a speaker which plays back your speech to you. It could be easily circumvented with $.10 earplugs...

Have you ever tried speaking when you can't hear your own voice at all? It's pretty hard, too.

Re: New speech-jamming gun hints at dystopian Big Brother future

#6

From what I understand of the technology at play here, it seems like it could be defeated by a pair of earplugs (or, if you're in a conversation rather than a speech, then a microphone/headphone combination with an additional short delay) - though I'm by no means qualified in this area! Still, even if there is a workaround, it seems impractical to wear all the time.

Just put your fingers in your ears when you want to speak, or wear noise-canceling headphones.

Re: New speech-jamming gun hints at dystopian Big Brother future

#7
post #3

It's not a speech-jamming gun at all. It's a speaker which plays back your speech to you. It could be easily circumvented with $.10 earplugs...

Have you ever tried speaking when you can't hear your own voice at all? It's pretty hard, too.

It doesn't cancel your speech - it plays it back to you with a slight delay. You hear what you said an instant ago.

Turn on the TV. Try repeating what someone talking continuously says right after they say it. That's what happens; it jams you mentally. Granted simultaneous translators at the UN do it with a twist, so it's possible.

Re: New speech-jamming gun hints at dystopian Big Brother future

#8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you ever tried speaking when you can't hear your own voice at all? It's pretty hard, too.

It doesn't cancel your speech - it plays it back to you with a slight delay. You hear what you said an instant ago. Turn on the TV. Try repeating what someone talking continuously says right after they say it. That's what happens; it jams you mentally. Granted simultaneous translators at the UN do it with a twist, so it's possible.

No, I mean, if you wore earplugs to defend yourself from the jammer -- you can't tell how loud you're talking, and controlling pitch/tone can be hard, too.

(AFAIK, this is why deaf people find it hard to speak.)

Re: New speech-jamming gun hints at dystopian Big Brother future

#9
>if you’re a firm believer in free speech, you should now be experiencing a deafening cacophony of alarm bells

This article is sensationalist. If a directional mic/speaker is a "speech jamming gun" then a loud speaker is a "free speech area jammer". And you really don't need the mic - just blast Justin Bieber at a conversation and nobody will be able to hear anything intelligible anyway...

If you had a "totalitarian government" that wanted to jam you from thinking there are simpler ways to continuously annoy or distract you. Maybe if Stalin were bored and wanted to f#@* with people for the lulz.

Re: New speech-jamming gun hints at dystopian Big Brother future

#10
post #3

It's not a speech-jamming gun at all. It's a speaker which plays back your speech to you. It could be easily circumvented with $.10 earplugs...

Even the best earplugs only muffle sound to a certain degree. Sound, especially loud sounds, is transmitted very well through the bones in your head.
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