We’re not talking headphones here, but rather devices that can reduce the noise around you, and make for better thinking, communication, conferencing, and more.
Hearing the roar of the crowd can be amazing, especially if you take a step back to drink it all in.
Sometimes though, the moment calls for a river of peace and quiet. It’s all about balance. But with noisy offices, crowded classrooms, and busy cafes, the quiet that’s integral to getting stuff done or simply tuning out in supreme fashion can be hard to come by.
Here are 3 devices that can make it feel like a silent slice of heaven, even if only for a moment, for either you or your desk mates. Go ahead, check them out.
Noise Canceling Ear Muffs
These devices are the true, traditional deal. You might garner some raised eyebrows if you wear them at Starbucks, but life is for living your way, right?
Products like ClearArmor’s protective safety ear muffs come with a padded head band, adjustable fit, and swivel cup design. These ear muffs are NRR tested and certified, and feature ClearArmor’s SonicSeal that provides better protection to save your hearing.
They’re said to provide noise reduction up to 31 decibels, and act as a light weight solution—that works.
Helmfon Isolation Helmet
This gem has to be seen to be believed. The Helmfon forms a large helmet that could make it easier for those trying to focus on quiet work in a noisy space.
The helmet is sound proof and comes equipped with a space for your smartphone, a system board, a microphone, speakers, an accumulator, and a magnifier—talk about all-in-one! Inside it you can Skype with friends and colleagues, hold conferences, watch videos, make phone calls, and more, all without disturbing your neighbors, or competing with their noise.
The device isn’t in stores or even on the market yet, but the company is promising to go forward with product testing as we speak. It claims to be preparing to test drive the invention at large corporations in the United States, so stay tuned.
Hushme
This one is for your mouth. It won’t cancel out the noise around you when it comes to your own ears, but it will silence your voice for others, and render your phone conversations private.
Hushme is advertised as the “world’s first voice mask for mobile phones” and it acts like a muzzle that sits over your mouth, as you talk. It hooks up to an app on your smartphone that allows you to make your voice sound like a squirrel’s, or Darth Vader, as if you’re surrounded by a noisy ocean or a deluge of rain, or maybe like you’ve just turned into a monkey. You know, because sometimes that’s just what you need.
Hushme comes with wireless in-ear headphones and powerful built-in speakers that allow you to also use the device as a portable wireless speaker. It’s particularly useful for bloggers and writers who want to convert speech to text, individuals on the move who want to keep their business deals private even at the airport, and of course, in offices where you’d rather your co-workers not eavesdrop on private or professional conversations.
Interestingly, Hushme, like the Helmfon, is also made by a Ukrainian team. The two don’t appear to be connected, but it does make Ukraine look like a place full of interesting minds and a lot of private conversations.
It’s now available for pre-order, so go ahead, get yours now.
