Silence Gun: Strange Weapon of the Future.....

[MMC]

Ever since humans first invented guns, they've been inventing new uses for them. Some shoot bullets; others shoot lasers. But a strange and unsettling new gun being developed by Japanese researchers shoots sound waves in an effort to disrupt and silence anyone who dares speak out of turn.

The gun operates based on the concept of delayed auditory feedback. An attached microphone picks up the sound being made by the target and plays it back 0.2 seconds later. The effect is incredibly confusing to the human brain, making it all but impossible to talk or hold a conversation. The device doesn't cause the person it's being used on any physical harm — it simply messes with their head.

When the human brain hears its own speech perfectly in sync during normal speech, it easily processes the input and allows you to largely ignore the sound of your own voice. However, by offsetting the response just a bit, the brain hears your mouth speaking as well as the strange echo effect produced by the gun. This unusual combination is confusing enough to effectively shut down the part of your brain responsible for managing speech, and you fall immediately silent.....snip~

Silence Gun: Strange weapon of the future immediately quiets you, whether you like it or not | Technology News Blog - Yahoo! News

Think about how this could affect Freedom of Speech laws. Not to mention, I know some women that will not be happy to see this thing hit the markets.

 

[ChuckBerry]

I see this as a possibly effective technique for dispersing illegal public gatherings of any kind without use of physical force. I don't think it would stop
riots in progress, but it would certainly get people to disperse from an area pretty quickly before they get too crazy.

Any new truly non lethal technique for crowd control ought to be welcome.

 

[MKULTRABOY]

I see this as a possibly effective technique for dispersing illegal public gatherings of any kind without use of physical force. I don't think it would stop
riots in progress, but it would certainly get people to disperse from an area pretty quickly before they get too crazy.

Any new truly non lethal technique for crowd control ought to be welcome.

Excellent, we can drive political looneys insane on their own drivel.

 

[MMC]

Wonder if it will work on those that like to do some

 

[longview]

It is kind of a cool idea using destructive interference of sound wave to silence a noise source.
Like point source noise cancelling headphones.

 

[rhinefire]

Give everyone one to use when our politicians begin to speak.