# Gadget Lets You Speak With Your Ear "E-Mimi-Kun" By Rose A. Valenta | Published 2007-12-30 | Unique Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/e-mimi-kun References: [mobilewhack](http://www.mobilewhack.com/e-mimi-kun-the-mobile-ear-piece-for-noisy-locations/) & [coolbusinessideas](http://www.coolbusinessideas.com/archives/quiet_talking.html) A new device that doubles as an [earphone and a microphone](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-earbuds) for mobile phone users by [detecting air vibrations inside the ear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hearvana-ai) is the new trend in sound technology. Dubbed "e-Mimi-kun" (good ear boy), the product was developed by Japanese company NS-ELEX Co and will allow people to "speak" with their ears. The intention is to allow mobile phone users to have conversations in [really loud places](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bling-by-braindeck), like busy streets or shopping malls. It could eliminate scenarios like the one in the video clip! ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.9/10 - Popularity: 66% | Activity: 73% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Unique](https://www.trendhunter.com/unique) > [Inventions](https://www.trendhunter.com/inventions) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Sound Technology Innovation:** The gadget that combines earphone and microphone capabilities opens up opportunities for further advancements in sound technology. - **Enhanced Communication Devices:** The development of the e-Mimi-kun device highlights the potential for creating more innovative and versatile communication devices. - **Noise-canceling Solutions:** The trend of using air vibrations inside the ear to facilitate clearer communication can spur the development of noise-canceling solutions. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Mobile Phone Manufacturing:** The e-Mimi-kun gadget presents an opportunity for mobile phone manufacturers to incorporate dual earphone and microphone functionalities in their future products. - **Audio Equipment Suppliers:** The demand for high-quality earphones that can pick up air vibrations and function as microphones can create new market opportunities for audio equipment suppliers. - **Communications Technology:** The development of the e-Mimi-kun device implies the need for advancements in communications technology, such as improved noise-cancellation algorithms and speech enhancement algorithms. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Facial-Tracking Sonar Glasses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/echospeech.md) - [Text-Transcribing Eyewear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/assistive-wearables.md) - [AI-Powered Hearing Enhancers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cheero-kikiyasu-hearing-amplifier.md) - [Adaptable Open-Ear Earbuds](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/openear-earbuds.md) - [Voice Suppression Microphones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mutalk.md) - [Dialogue-Enhancing Earphones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zvox.md) - [Hybrid Wearable Headphones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/neckphone-tri.md) - [Audio-Amplifying Glasses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nuance-glasses.md) - [Silent Speech Earbuds](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/voicebuds.md)