It'd be interesting to see a good product evaluation of his device by someone like Consumer Reports. I've seen a lot of seemingly good ideas that didn't perform well when put to the test.

Noise is a real issue that does degrade quality of life. I have a set of active noise reduction headphones that I use when flying. Private planes are very noisy inside. The headphones work great, lowering the sound level by over 30 dB. They aren't too comfortable when wearing sunglasses or instrument training goggles, but I've found a way around that.

Of course, there is a cheaper <a href="http://www.drugstore.com/qxp86123_333181_sespider/macks/safe_sound_soft_foam_earplugs.htmlow tech solution. I've used them. they're very comfortable and do a great job at reducing ear strain in noisy environments.