I have never used this product, but I like the concept. Thanks to KitUp for bringing it to my attention as well. The big ear muffs that guys wear on the range or for convoy security are not exactly the most comfortable option for ear protection and communications. Plus, if you wear glasses with those muffs, the arm of your sunglasses can press against your head by the ear muffs and cause discomfort. It also breaks the seal between the muff and the ear area, unless you have special glasses or are wearing them above the muff off your head.
The muffs are still fine for range work or for the occasional convoy stuff, and you can still wear your sunglasses or goggles in a way where the seal is not broken. But still, it is not the most ideal arrangement and especially if you want to go low profile.
The other factor with muffs is that they are hot and add weight to an already weighted down head (helmet, NODs, etc.) Anything to lessen that weight, yet still achieve the same results as muffs, is pretty cool in my book.
Now onto the downside with plugs like this. Usually you sacrifice something when you reduce the size of the device. I don’t know if this setup below would be that durable. The battery life and durability of the electronics and the rigors of combat zone operations all come into play. It must be able to handle a bunch of sweat and dirt bombarding the thing, as well as continuous abuse of the wires. If it can’t handle all of that, then I don’t think it will win many guys over.
There are other electronic earplugs out there that I have seen at hunting stores and shooting ranges, but they are all kind of lacking. With those, there are no wires, but they are also not that rugged and are easy to lose. At least with these QUIETPRO+ Earplugs, they are tethered together via the wiring. The one earplug that I have heard good things about is the Invisio Bone Mic stuff, but that is about it. Maybe there are others the readers can suggest?
I guess the big one for me is that I want hearing protection that is comfortable, lightweight, unobtrusive, durable, functional(plays well with multiple types of radios), has outstanding clarity, and has excellent circuitry for shutting off the loud noises yet able to filter in all the important stuff. Battery life is important too, and you don’t want the thing shutting down in the middle of a mission. If QUIETPRO+ can do all of that, then that sounds like some good kit. –Matt
—————————————————————–
The earplug comprises a miniature loudspeaker and both internal and external microphones. (Credit: Image courtesy of SINTEF)
Earplug Lets the Message Through
June 29, 2010
An earplug with a built-in computer that allows speech to pass but shuts out unwanted and hazardous noise will make life easier in noisy environments.
The basic technology in the QUIETPRO earplug was developed at SINTEF ICT .The earplug comprises a miniature loudspeaker and both internal and external microphones. The inner microphone measures the noise in the ear. The earplug shuts out the noise but allows speech to pass, thanks to the electronics built into a microchip. In quiet surroundings the sounds that we wish to hear are allowed past, but in a noisy environment, the system shuts out the noise, allowing only speech to pass. The electronics are built into a tiny chip. In combination with a radio, the system is a complete communications terminal for use in noisy environments.