A Japanese company Tuesday unveiled a new device that will allow people “speak” through their ear so they can use their mobile telephones in noisy places.
The device – named “e-Mimi-kun” (good ear boy) – doubles as an earphone and a microphone by detecting air vibrations inside the ear, developer NS-ELEX Co. said.
The earpiece and an accompanying device can be connected to a [mobile phone](http://search.breitbart.com/q?s=%22mobile+phone%22&sid=breitbart.com), or wirelessly to a Bluetooth handset, so that users no longer have to cover their mouths when speaking in a loud environment, the company said.
Exterior noise is reduced six-fold by the earpiece, it said, while a chip developed by Sanyo Electric for the accompanying device reduces sound levels ten-fold, it added.
That’s interesting. We have had that in the fire service for many years (though I’ve not personally used them). They allow one to talk with an air mask on and still be heard while in the fire. Obviously the difference here is Bluetooth vs. wired walkie-talkies.