Japanese Researchers Develop Speech Jammer: Sweet or Scary?

by SodaHead News Posted 2012/03/02 22:15:24

Related Topics: speechjammer, silence gun, Technology, Weird News, Guns, Cornell, Physical, Website

454 votes
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	Sweet	158 votes	35%
	Scary	296 votes	65%

Keeping a boisterous crowd under control might become a little bit easier in the future. Perhaps... too easy. Japanese researchers Kazutaka Kurihara and Koji Tsukada have reportedly developed a "gun" that effectively silences anyone it "shoots." Early prototypes of the SpeechJammer required the gun to be hooked up to a computer, but rumor has it that they've already developed a handheld version of the device.

The way it's supposed to work is a little bit complicated. An abstract about the project found on the Cornell University Library website explains, "In general, human speech is jammed by giving back to the speakers their own utterances at a delay of a few hundred milliseconds. This effect can disturb people without any physical discomfort, and disappears immediately by stop speaking. Furthermore, this effect does not involve anyone but the speaker ... " Sounds a little complicated, but the video will help smooth things out. Plus, it's kind of funny. Do you think a speech jammer is a pretty sweet idea, or is it slightly too strange for your taste?

+18

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bob h. 2012/03/03 15:09:23

Scary

+9
Apparently, they sold it to AT&T; tech support.
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Jesse W... to All Ame... 2012/03/03 19:46:08

The commission that runs our highly exclusive debate system is BIPARTISAN. If you belong to either party than shame on you for silencing me and anyone else who refuses to lap up the predigested vomit that the two parties consider to be worthwhile political ideas.

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All Ame... to Jesse W... 2012/03/03 20:35:20

I didn't know the Dems and Reps were involved in R&D in Japan. Who sponsored the bill?

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SirWence 2012/03/03 11:36:12

Scary

+2
Even Orwell couldnt imagine who far wed come down the path..

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Nozzle 2012/03/03 10:58:22

Scary

+2
lol. the idea is a little scary, especially if you just read the first sentence in the question. but after watching the video i don't think anybody has anything to worry about

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DanC 2012/03/03 10:37:49

Scary

+2
The idea might be a bit scary, but that device can't really "silence" anything or anyone... it's a just a directional speaker...

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art1ej 2012/03/03 10:13:09

Scary

+2
i would just laugh if someone pointed that at me....

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bob h. to art1ej 2012/03/03 16:47:11

But they wouldn't hear the laugh. It would sound like ..... .....!

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art1ej to bob h. 2012/03/03 16:55:47

lol...no id grab it & then laugh...i dont think that thing works anyway...

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Ian 2012/03/03 09:12:55

Sweet

+2
I don't see any option other than sweet or scary... I would have picked "won't work in real life" because the victim obviously knows he/she is being targeted. The teacher would have cited the student for disciplinary action! The video seems to be deliberately humourous... seems more like a joke.

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Depsycho 2012/03/03 07:45:39

Scary

+5
Imagine if this technology were shrunk to a more compact size - like a cell phone, iPod, watch, etc. Now imagine someone sneaking that compact size into something like a political debate or a courtroom settlement then subtly aiming it at the person they don't like trying to defend their position.

There goes free speech and civil discourse along with it. I swear, this is almost so supernatural, it's like a superhuman ability put into a gun. Granted it IS a cool idea, but it's also a very scary reality... you know, if it's even real.

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wilsonmja 2012/03/03 07:29:30

Sweet

+3
Is funny an option. This is clearly a joke...a bad attempt at humor, but definitely a joke.

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Ian to wilsonmja 2012/03/03 09:13:23

Yeah, the video seems like a joke.

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A Pigeon. 2012/03/03 07:26:52

Sweet

+2
Honestly I think it's pretty cool

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mwf122090 2012/03/03 07:22:56

Scary

+4
Obviously it could be helpful in places like libraries, but the idea that it could be used to quell free speech does bother me. Of course there are a few people that I wouldn't mind using it on.....

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Radical Ed to mwf122090 2012/03/03 13:50:05

+4
*looks at second pic* kill it, kill it with fire!!

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Sunshin... to Radical Ed 2012/03/03 14:32:34

+5
..preferably before it lays eggs!

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Inquisitve Kat 2012/03/03 07:03:41

Scary

+2
Seems creepy to me!

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Maci 2012/03/03 06:58:24
Mog of War to Maci 2012/03/03 07:11:34

+2
What about First Amendment rights?. If you do not believe in the freedom of speech of EVERYONE, including those you hate, then you don't truly believe in the freedom of speech AT ALL!

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Maci to Mog of War 2012/03/03 07:38:58 (edited)
Mog of War to Maci 2012/03/03 15:19:13

Actually I was quite calm in writing that passage, with the CAPS only being used for emphasis as haven't gotten ubb tags to work for italics or bold on this site. Also it lacked any cleverness to it, so If there was a joke it was entirely on us, especially once you consider that too many people on this site (on all sides of the aisle) have said the same sort of inane things and actually meant it. You can go ahead and imagine me soiling myself in rage, but really you only succeeded in minor aggravation.

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Maci to Mog of War 2012/03/03 15:22:41
Mog of War to Maci 2012/03/03 15:29:16 (edited)

That would imply I took you seriously at this point. Rule one of trolling, once the cat's out of the bag, there's no baggin' it back up.

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Maci to Mog of War 2012/03/03 15:35:19
Maci to Mog of War 2012/03/03 15:31:50
Maci to Mog of War 2012/03/03 15:39:34 (edited)
Mog of War to Maci 2012/03/03 16:13:27

You're vastly overestimating how humurous you are.

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Maci to Mog of War 2012/03/03 16:29:20
Jesse W... to Maci 2012/03/03 19:55:01

It doesn't surprise me that you feel no guilt about "jokes" about silencing opposition. Creating a society of like minded individuals has been a huge goal of liberal ideology from its inception, and you will have to silence people to make it happen.

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Maci to Jesse W... 2012/03/03 23:17:54
DutchHe... to Maci 2012/03/03 12:52:26

+1
Stupid answer , no matter how stupid illogical retarded conservatives are , they STILL have the right to speak, now matter how much lies they tell..

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Maci to DutchHe... 2012/03/03 12:56:24 (edited)
DutchHe... to Maci 2012/03/03 14:15:45

It is a serious problem, I understand your joke but this developement is nothing to joke about
I think, maybe you underestimate it but I guerrantee you that this device will be used to silence inconvenient voices in the public, maybe not right way, but it will happen

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Maci to DutchHe... 2012/03/03 15:42:31
DutchHe... to Maci 2012/03/03 16:54:34

Nope not panic, warning people BIIIIG difference

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Maci to DutchHe... 2012/03/03 17:09:04
DutchHe... to Maci 2012/03/03 18:27:07

Dear maci read the rest of the comments , most people take it as a joke

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bob h. to DutchHe... 2012/03/03 16:53:14

The GOP will bring it's own canned applause.

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DutchHe... to bob h. 2012/03/03 16:54:59

as allways

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sashae duh!! 2012/03/03 06:56:22

Scary

+2
WTFFFFFFFFF!! Notice how it didn't say, their able to speak again. Lmfao probably didn't figure that out yet, but yea let's use it on americans. Wow!

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