New noise-canceling ramen fork hides slurping sounds
Leave it to Japan. Ramen-maker Nissin created a pricey utensil that disguises eating sounds by linking to your smartphone.
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Loudly slurping ramen noodles is considered normal in Japan. But if you're not in Japan, or just prefer to be a little more discreet about your dining, there's a solution.
Japanese instant-ramen giant Nissin, maker of Top Ramen and Cup Noodles (formerly Cup O' Noodles in the U.S.), has invented the Otohiko fork, a noise-canceling fork that hides slurping sounds with help from users' smartphones.
Sensors in the fork detect slurping. The fork sends a signal to the diner's smartphone, which masks the sounds by playing white noise or other soothing sounds. (Watch the above video for a wacky demonstration, or check out Chowhound's take here.)
Only the most vehement slurping haters are likely to buy one of these high-tech utensils. The forks cost $130 each and only 5,000 are being made. And the limited run will only be made if enough of the forks are pre-ordered.
We can think of at least one good use for one: Drax the Destroyer could've benefited from an Otohiko fork in that one awful soup-slurping scene in ads for "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2."
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