NEWS – Straight from the Gadgeteer wacky files comes Hushme. No, it’s not a muzzle for a cannibal. It’s a Bluetooth headset that allows you to receive calls and talk to people without those around you being able to hear what you say. Why do I think the Hushme is wacky? Let me count the ways. First of all, it looks absolutely crazy. Next, their own website says that you have to talk lower than you normally would or else people will hear you while using this device. Ummmm… what’s the point then?! And lastly, it’s $229! The only way I could see a device like this being remotely useful is if it was also a COVID-style face mask. But other than that, I’ll take a hard pass. But if you want one, be my guess and head over to gethushme.com
Now I want to hear what do you think about it. Share your comments below.
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Thanks for the morning chuckle!
John, you are very welcome. I guess that doesn’t mean that you ordered one huh? 😉
Yeah, walking out the side door to talk is cheaper and easier.
I was absent the day they taught ventriloquism.
Why not a throat mic then?
Why cover the mouth with that unsightly mess when throat mics have existed for many many years?
Come to think of it, headphone boom mics and even earphone mics exist. Why must I look like the berk who doesn’t know where the headphones go?
Jake, I think John has the best solution to people not being able to hear your conversation… Go outside! It’s crazy that this exists.
The thumbnails look more like they belong on some of those 21+ toy websites.
Ha! Someone’s mind is really in the gutter 😉
For being a ridiculous mask, it doesn’t cover the freakin nose!
Ravi, it’s not a mask though… It’s a headset (faceset?) to take/receive calls so people won’t hear you.
I understand. You had mentioned a Covid mask in your write up. Hence the comment!😀
Ah yes… well that was assuming they would make it much larger 😉
Actually…there might be a situation for just such a thing. I am a proctor at a test center for a university. throughout the day…I have students in the room taking tests…but I also have students that I have to “Zoom” proctor their exams. I use a headset…but the students in the room hear me on my end and sometimes are distracted by my talking. Something like this…might actually be useful in this type of situation. Before starting here…I would have been on board with all the other comments on this 🙂
Mark
Mark, that’s a pretty interesting and valid use case.
Good point – when my daughter was taking her HSPT test the proctor was continually getting TXT and calls. She got distracted and, because it was ScanTron multiple choice, she shifted her answers to the wrong rows. So she got a terrible score and missed acceptance into her preferred high school.
Years ago, I did Audio Description for live plays and operas in our area through a non-profit. Folks with low or no vision could come to the theatre, get an earphone, and we would sit in the rear of the audience and describe what was going on onstage using a microphone not unlike this. It had a lot more padding, and did cover the nose (IIRC). This was broadcast locally via our closed system, and the earphone our patrons wore allowed them to hear what was happening, while their other ear would hear the voices of the actors and the music, as well as the reaction of the audience. It was very rewarding, and a fun creative outlet, learning to, as we say, “talk between the lines” so we didn’t interrupt dialogue. (Check some of your DVDs or streaming options and see if there is an “Audio Description” option. It’s quite interesting, and becoming more and more mainstream!)
This unit would have been nice for some of the longer plays, since we had to hold the padded mic up to our face the entire time we were narrating. (During operas, we’d have two narrators – each with their own mic – one reading the libretto that was being shown in English above the proscenium, and the other giving the play-by-play of the actor’s movements and costumes, set changes, etc.)
Another cool use case. I guess I was much too quick to dismiss this product.