Another great idea of mine - for sale!

A year and a half a go I posted my "unpatent" #3 which was to add a microphone to your headphones so you could hold a conversation without removing them. It also allows you to enjoy your music at whatever volume you want without bother others, yet still remain aware of what is going on around you. Convenient if you're at work or in an environment where you need to respond when someone speaks to you.

So I was sort of happy to read the Shure has come out with the E500PTH in ear headphones that include a microphone and a "Push-to-hear" button. Interestingly the microphone is tuned for voice frequencies, and looks like it can only be activated temporarily for brief conversation - you can't permanently dial some component of the outside world. So if the boss (or mugger!) walks up behind you and starts talking you wont be able to hear him until you see him and turn the PTH on. They have trade-marked "Push to hear" so I expect they may also have applied for a patent on the idea. I wonder if their patent application pre-dated my publication of the idea???

Unfortunately the E500PTH is insanely expensive (as are most of Shure's products!), coming in at $499 retail I think it could be a few years before I can actually afford one!