The days of hauling a bulky two-way radio through military deployments could become a thing of the past, with a hands-free communication device which soldiers can carry in their mouth.

The US air force has joined forces with California-based company Sonitus Technologies to develop the ‘Molar Mic’ — a personal communication system that replaces the traditional two-way radio and allows you to hear without actually using your ears.

The US government has committed about $10 million to manufacture and distribute the devices that could revolutionise battlefield communications.

The latest in US defence technology is the 'Molar Mic', which clips onto your back teeth

The encrypted, wireless device is small in size and able to withstand harsh weather conditions.

The mic simply clips to the user’s back tooth and transmits sound using bone matter.

A statement released by Sonitus claimed the Molar Mic is embedded with a tiny microphone and speaker transducer for hearing in a “compact, custom-fit mouthpiece that snaps comfortably around a user’s back teeth”.

Sound is transmitted using the cranial bones, crating a new auditory pathway for communicating. Incoming sound is transmitted through the user’s teeth and jawbone to auditory nerves.

Outgoing sound is sent to another small transmitter which hangs from the user’s neck and can be sent anywhere.

“The result is an unobstructed head and face, clear communication, higher comfort, enhanced situational awareness and the ability to add or remove personal protective equipment without breaking communication,” the statement said.

Sonitus chief executive Peter Hadrovic said the Molar Mic was a game changer in military technology and would make soldiers “safer and more effective by enabling them to communicate clearly — even in the most extreme situations”.

“The voice interface sustains communications in dangerous and challenging environments,” he said.

The 'Molar Mic' effectively allows you to hear through your head, instead of through your ears.

Speaking to military website Defence One, Mr Hadrovic explained that the brain adjusts to comprehending conversations which are transmitted through bone over time.

“Over the period of three weeks, your brain adapts and it enhances your ability to process the audio,” he said.

SOURCE: https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/military/twoway-radio-clipped-to-molar-is-set-to-boost-battlefield-communications/news-story/35b0ec2e20af4e4c644c6a289de130d0

OP's notes: In a country wrung betwixt indolence and corruption as well as underfunding of the military. We have, often times seen budgets for military equipments and apparatuses being distended beyond the usual/normal size.

Can Nigeria ever get it right to a point where direct funding goes to these technological experimentation and creation to better help our military combat the myriad of security challenges we're beset with?