Invisible Headphone Implants

The newest fad in transhumanist fashion are ear implants that let you listen to music – or record conversation – without anyone noticing.  These imperceptible headphones are made of magnets directly implanted in the ears, which transmit sound by bone vibration.

This is not a futuristic Nano Supermarket product. Instead, it is the invention of Rich Lee, a self-described transhumanist and body modification fan. Lee explains the innovative applications for his device:

“I intend to do some very creative things with it. The implant itself is completely undetectable to the naked eye. I can see myself using it with the GPS on my smartphone to navigate city streets on foot. I plan to hook it up to a directional mic of some sort so I can hear conversations across a room. Having a mic hooked up to it and routed through my phone would be handy. You could use a simple voice stress analysis app to detect when people might be lying to you. Not to say that is a hard science, but I’m sure it could come in handy at the poker table or to pre-screen business clients. I have a contact mic that allows you to hear through walls. That might be my next implant actually”.

These earphones have many potential uses, ranging from the playful to the practical. This technology, of course, has a more ominous side, as it can be used to violate privacy.

Interested in making your own invisible earphones? The project web page has all the instructions, including a step-by-step video tutorial.