
NewScientist is reporting of a recently filed "Cone of Silence" related invention by two engineers out of MIT ...The system uses sensors to determine the location of any offending eavesdroppers, then uses strategically located speakers to send out just the right amount of white noise to mask out conversations of the self-deemed important talkers.
Are open phone or office conversations in today's workplace really that big of a problem? Or could this targeted strictly for use for the lower echelon, so that the upper echelon can't hear them talking regularly about fantasy football, stories of who got blotto'ed the night before, or more importantly, the annointment of a new Queen of the Babes, a recent company W-2 filler out-er unanimously nominated (discreetly) by her peers?
Maybe when this conversation muted system is available in the future, you or one of your co-workers can put this muting system in the suggestion box; if purchased and installed by your company, it would be a way to help you improve productivity...This would allow you to talk confidently all day about whatever you want, without having to make all that extra effort to see who's lurking behind you or snooping from the adjacent cubicle...