It’s not often that one hears about World War I technology being used with today’s mobile communications devices, yet that’s the case with IASUS Concepts’ new NT3 throat mic headset. Throat microphones were originally developed for use by military pilots and tank drivers, as they picked up vocal vibrations directly from the wearer’s larynx, and were unaffected by extraneous sounds. IASUS still makes throat mics for military use, but the NT3 is designed for use when talking on the phone while driving a convertible ... that said, you could probably also press it into service next time you bring your Sopwith Camel out of the barn.
There are already Bluetooth headsets that feature electronic wind noise cancellation, although IASUS maintains that these don’t work well enough for convertible drivers. Because its aluminum transponder works solely by vibration, wind is essentially irrelevant to the sound quality of the NT3.
A similar tactic is used by the military-spec QUIETPRO+ Intelligent Hearing System, which picks up the user’s voice through a microphone in the earbud, via bone conduction.
The NT3 also features a coiled acoustic earpiece, tangle-resistant braided wiring, and a magnetic clasp that will release in the event of potential strangulation. The headset is VOX-capable, offers various PTT options, and its multi-adapter allows it to work with most major mobile phones. It sells for a suggested retail price of US$89, at stores listed on the company website.
