Scientists create ‘gun’ that disrupts speech

[IDemo]

By Stephen C. Webster
Thursday, March 1, 2012 10:20 EST

Japanese scientists with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology claimed this week that they have developed a novel new weapon by combining two specialized technologies in such a way that they are now capable of rendering someone unable to speak.

While it’s not technically a weapon, their “portable speech-jamming gun” could certainly be used as one, especially against political leaders or others who speak to large audiences for a living.

Combining a directional microphone and a directional speaker, the “Speechjammer” records and quickly plays back whatever words someone is uttering, making it very difficult for the speaker to focus on what words come next. The effect is called “artificial stuttering.”

Because the directional amplifier can only be heard by the person it is pointing at, the gun’s effect is like hearing a recording of one’s own voice echoing inside one’s skull. Researchers said their device can be used from approximately 34 meters away, but there are other directional amplification technologies that go further.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/03/01/scientists-create-gun-that-disrupts-speech/

[sharp_stick]

1. That would be a most

disconcerting experience, especially if you didn't know what was happening.

[Shankapotomus]

2. Quick somebody aim it at Rush Limbaugh. (nt)

[targetpractice]

7. Or, you could try making an AT&T wireless call in my neighborhood...

All too often I am forced to redial because the call starts off by echoing my voice at me. I can only take a few seconds of trying to talk. It's definitely frustrating.

[leveymg]

4. There's an early Outer Limits episode that envisioned such a device, a silencing wand

Last edited Fri Mar 2, 2012, 09:09 AM - Edit history (3)

used by an alien interrogator against POWs in a sort of false-flag interstellar POW camp that turns out to be run by earth governments to see how soldiers would respond to the real thing. That episode, "Nightmare", from 1963 with Martin Sheen actually calls into question the basis of the Cold War. Aired ten days after the Kennedy Assassination.

Also, plot foreshadowed The Prisoner, another great ambivalent sci-fi series of the later '60s.

"Nightmare", Closing Narration:

"The exploration of human behavior under simulated conditions of stress is a commonplace component of the machinery called war. So long as Man anticipates and prepares for combat, be it with neighboring nations or with our neighbors in space, these unreal games must be played, and there are only real men to play them. According to established military procedure, the results of the Ebon maneuvers will be recorded in books and fed into computers for the edification and enlightenment of all the strategists of the future. Perhaps they will learn something. ”

[eppur_se_muova]

5. And if you pre-record your speech on your iPod and crank that up ... ? nt

[slackmaster]

6. Kind of like when someone calls into a radio talk show and leaves a radio on

[targetpractice]

8. Seems like it could be defeated easily enough with earplugs. n/t

[Fuzz]

9. You just know the socialists used one of these on Bush to try and make him look stupid so they

could work toward taking over the country and putting us all in camps.

[DianaForRussFeingold]

10. How, usefull...!

"Palin.....Palin Palin Palin Palin" First comment at link!

[HopeHoops]

11. They were clearling using it on the shrub all along.

[lastlib]

12. how do I get one???

[Erose999]

13. Is it this guy, by any chance?

Don't worry, I'm sure these scientists will be foiled by a secret agent platypus very soon.

[izquierdista]

14. Worthless and easily defeated

I imagine that any first-grade teacher knows how to counteract this babblebox, probably even several turned on at once.

[DianaForRussFeingold]

15. Yeah, right..!

All you need is one of these...

[quakerboy]

16. Any bets on how long untill it is employed

against protestors?