The Silence Gun - The Greatest Invention in the history of everything?

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**Ahtman**

I must have this.

Article

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.

**LordofHats**

Is there any way this technology could be adapted for use on the internet? Possibly in a forum environment

**Frazzled**

So could I just put one on my desk at work and keep it on?

**Chowderhead**

Men with Naggy Wives, be amazed! The day has finally come!

Anyway, it sounds really cool.

**Medium of Death**

Reminds me of that future batman cartoon that was out several years ago, the villain that was sound based could do something like this.

Not sure why I'm remembering that.

It would be nice to see a video of it but obviously that's impossible.

**Manchu**

Ah, so that's what our Japanese affiliates have been up to.

**Monster Rain**

Let our spell casting enemies beware!

**Manchu**

That tears it, I'm definitely taking Silent Spell next level.

**KingCracker**

Monster Rain wrote:Let our spell casting enemies beware!

That made me laugh, nice work.

This is one of those technologies that I find very cool, but kindda useless.

**Exalted Pariah**

It'd be nice in a classroom, the teacher could shut it off so a student with a raised hand could answer... I don't know what it is about technology like this, tasers, the pain ray and LRADs, but they make me want to try to fight them, I'd probably try to talk in front of the silence gun for an hour or so, just to get the feeling of overcoming it, am I wierd or is anyone else like that?

**grayshadow87**

Exalted Pariah wrote:It'd be nice in a classroom, the teacher could shut it off so a student with a raised hand could answer... I don't know what it is about technology like this, tasers, the pain ray and LRADs, but they make me want to try to fight them, I'd probably try to talk in front of the silence gun for an hour or so, just to get the feeling of overcoming it, am I wierd or is anyone else like that?

I would kill for one of these in my classroom. As far as fighting the technology, I do that kind of thing with low-grade electric fences, but that's pretty much where I draw the line.

**Avatar 720**

Manchu wrote:Ah, so that's what our Japanese affiliates have been up to.

They kept rather quiet about it.

**Bakerofish**

LordofHats wrote:Is there any way this technology could be adapted for use on the internet? Possibly in a forum environment

Dakka already has the ignore button

**CT GAMER**

LordofHats wrote:Is there any way this technology could be adapted for use on the internet? Possibly in a forum environment

I think Dakka has been using some variant of this technology for a while now...

**Vitruvian XVII**

Avatar 720 wrote:
Manchu wrote:Ah, so that's what our Japanese affiliates have been up to.

They kept rather quiet about it.

Oh no you didnt!!! Made me lol

Pretty cool, but as has been said, kinda useless.

**Piston Honda**

Going to get my mom one of these to shut my old man up.

**SagesStone**

What happens if two of these shoot at each over at the same time?

**Bakerofish**

@not u

it doesnt cancel out sounds...it plays back the speakers own voice in a delay so the person speaking just gets annoyed and stops

it happens when you have a bad line on a n international call at times.

if you have two guns pointing at each other i imagine just a continuous echo of any sound the devices pick up

unless it just feedbacks and blows out peoples eardrums

**Squidmanlolz**

Medium of Death wrote:Reminds me of that future batman cartoon that was out several years ago, the villain that was sound based could do something like this.

Not sure why I'm remembering that.

It would be nice to see a video of it but obviously that's impossible.

I believe you are referencing Batman Beyond.
+1 nostalgia

**purplefood**

It's so hard to talk if you have to listen to yourself on a second or so delay...

**Squidmanlolz**

n0t_u wrote:What happens if two of these shoot at each over at the same time?

Enough feedback to create a causality loop through space and time...

**SagesStone**

Squidmanlolz wrote:
n0t_u wrote:What happens if two of these shoot at each over at the same time?

Enough feedback to create a causality loop through space and time...

I get it now, the sound that box shape.

**rubiksnoob**

Sounds cool.

**Squidmanlolz**

rubiksnoob wrote:Sounds cool.

I see what you did there

**azazel the cat**

The feedback on that thing must be criminally dangerous

**KingCracker**

n0t_u wrote:What happens if two of these shoot at each over at the same time?

Yes, yes, more of this!

**Squigsquasher**

What's the phone number for the Japanese embassy? I want this!

**purplefood**

Squigsquasher wrote:What's the phone number for the Japanese embassy? I want this!

General inquiries: 020 7465 6543 / 6544

**Da Boss**

I want one for my classroom. Badly.

**Monster Rain**

Da Boss wrote:I want one for my classroom. Badly.

Seems like you'd be better off with a riot shield and a tazer, IMHO.