ChatterBlocker — Block Distracting Speech at Work

An anonymous reader writes "ChatterBlocker is a PC program that uses digital audio technology to neutralize the sound of speech and other distractions so you can stay focused at work or elsewhere." Personally I just crank the tunes. Anyone know if this actually works or if it's a scam? Or is it just a white noise generator?

Worst. Article. Ever.

[Snover]

From the FAQ:

How does ChatterBlocker work?

        ChatterBlocker masks unwanted office chatter using a soothing blend of nature sounds, music and anti-chatter voices.

WOW. MINDBLOWING.

pure snakeoil

[Anonymous Coward]

snakeoil ...

Quote:
"ChatterBlocker includes bell sound loops that can be used as periodic reminders to breathe"

now, come on ... people buying this may be stupid. But reminding them to breathe ?

Something else

[VincenzoRomano]

Personally I just crank the tunes. Anyone know if this actually works or if it's a scam? Or is it just a white noise generator?

Or maybe it's simply employer stupidity?
People use to talk each other as an expession of being human for social relationshinps and for knowledge transfers.
But those employers could be more interested in bodies rather than in minds.
In this latter case, the software is very useful.

Try the Demo!

[Simon (S2)]

Personally I just crank the tunes. Anyone know if this actually works or if it's a scam? Or is it just a white noise generator?

Why did'nt you try the demo? I did, and this stupid program does nothing more than generate sound. This way you have even more noise around you.

Really, worst article ever.

Uber-Parent Is Part of the Problem

[MSTCrow5429]

Personally I just crank the tunes.

Good job, you boorish oaf. Now you've contributed to the problem, and your co-workers probably hate you. Or you're using headphones, and going deaf.

Re:Free Speech?

[CdXiminez]

No, it supports the freedom to choose what to listen to.
One does not have an obligation to listen to everybody's use of free speech.

Re:From the site:

[raduf]

Except it works :) Won't buy it, I work from home, but it looks like it works well enough. I think it's because distraction in noise comes mostly from our brain trying to understand what's beeing said/what the sound is. Once the chatter covers all inteligible speech, the brain just registers that people are speaking and doesn't try to understant what.

Taco Taco Taco

[gEvil (beta)]

If anyone has ever wondered if Taco and the other editors even bother clicking on the links in the summaries, here's your answer: "Anyone know if this actually works or if it's a scam? Or is it just a white noise generator?"

Anyone who's taken even 15 seconds to look into this will instantly know the answer.

Free advertizing?

[mh101]

I don't suppose this 'Anonymous Reader' who submitted this is an employee of the ChatterBlocker company looking or free ad space on Slashdot...?

Re:Earplugs

[ahertz]

Actually, as someone who works with a bunch of chatty people, I've found that earplugs do a pretty lousy job at blocking out conversations. The problem is that the best earplugs you can buy at your local drug store only attenuate noise by ~32 decibels. But a typical conversation, at close range, is ~60 decibels. You wind up just blocking out all the low-level background noise (computer fans, air conditioning, ...), leaving the voices even more distinct.

I've found the best solution for me is a pair of headphones that seal pretty well, combined with music. The sealed headphones drop everything, so the music can be much quieter and still drown them out.

I'm actually thinking of picking up a pair of Shure E2C [amazon.com] earbuds for just this purpose. Has anyone got any experience with them? Will they do what I want?

Re: EarPhones

[TaoPhoenix]

I second this approach. *Under the correct conditions*, I use an inexpensive pair of *very large* phones, and play the music.

The problem is, "the distracting noise" consists of your Boss telling you to do stuff completely different from the "high priority" he gave you an hour ago.

Re:Worst. Article. Ever.

[Fred_A]

So basically they charge 35 dollars for a bunch of wave files and some marketing on drool proof paper.

You have to admit it's quite ingenious.

Re:Earplugs and leet skillz!

[Anonymous Coward]

Yea, there's some dude at work that does the same thing. What an asshole. Why is it that some people want to "annoy and confuse" other people? You might think it's funny, but believe me, the people you work with don't like you and don't like working with you. You might think you're being clever or smart, but in reality you're just an annoying prick.