Yes, it’s the most ridiculous wearable we’ve seen, too. No matter how you feel about the way Hushme looks, however, you can’t deny it solves a very real problem – one that we’ve all encountered at one point or another.
While it look like a pair of headphones that you wear over your mouth, it isn’t. Instead, it’s a device that allows you to make phone calls without having everyone in the immediate vicinity hear what you’re talking about. That way, you don’t have to talk in whispers when gossiping about the new employee, complaining about the boss, or telling the doctor what you found on your pee-pee – this thing ensures no one else is privy to your conversation.
Billed as a “personal acoustic device,” Hushme consists of a rig that straps over your mouth, a pair of earbuds, and an integrated mic array. To use, simply pair it with your phone and wear the thing in place of your usual Bluetooth earpiece any time you’re making or receiving a call. It uses a pair of thick cushy pads to, basically, contain your voice inside the apparatus, allowing the microphone to pick it up while keeping what goes out to a minimum. In case some sound is still getting out (because you like talking very loud), it has an integrated speaker that can mask the voice with a choice of sounds that include wind, ocean, rain, and even R2D2 robot bleeps.
Slated for later in the year, Hushme is expected to be priced at $200.