(Mis)Uses of Technology

(Mis)Uses of Technology

by Michael Ho




Shh, Can You Hear Me Now?

from the speak-softly-and-carry-a-cell-phone dept

Korean engineers have created better microphones to pick up whispering. New signal processing and optimized construction of the microphone holes minimize harsh consonants and will hopefully allow people to whisper into their cell phones. Personally, though, when I'm yelling into my phone, it's because I can't hear myself, not because I don't think the phone isn't picking up my voice.

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  1. Aug 19th, 2003 @ 12:14am

    Kamsahamnida

    by Anonymous Coward

    The Korean language has so many plosives and hisses, it makes sense they would invent something like that.

    p.s. if you want to freak out a Korean girl real bad, ask if she can sing pansori.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  2. Aug 19th, 2003 @ 9:45am

    Sidetone

    by Dan Neuman

    I wonder if the reason cell-phone users talk so loud is because they can't hear themselves talk. Wired phones play your voice in the ear piece -- this is called sidetone, and if it isn't there, people tend to talk louder or think the phone isn't working.

    Possibly, cell phones don't have enough sidetone. If it were louder, you'd think you were talking too loud and lower your voice.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  3. Aug 19th, 2003 @ 12:55pm

    Re: Sidetone

    by nil-ram

    EXACTLY! Most cell phones have NO SIDETONE! I've been pointing this out to tech journalists and to journalists writing on rude cell phone users, and suggesting they ask phone companies why. No one asks, and I've never seen a story on this. Seems like a little sidetone could make the world a better place.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

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