New software has been unveiled that eliminates frustrating chewing noises when wearing a headset

NEW “crunch cancellation” software has been developed to suppress the sound of chewing when wearing a headset.

Developed by software engineer Dylan Fashbaugh, the AI-powered technology listens to a person’s voice and distinguishes it from the crunch of a snack.

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When users chew down the microphone, chewing is stopped while the sound of speech is preserved, meaning people can chew without making a sound.

“Doritos Silent,” the world’s first AI-powered “silent” tortilla chip technology, has been in development for half a year and includes analysis of more than 5,000 crunch sounds.

Users can now download the software from Brand website and free to use on PC headsets – once installed, simply turn it on and it will work with any software that supports voice chat.

It follows a study of 2,000 adults that found 46 percent dislike the sound of other people eating.

While 35 percent find others nibbling snacks annoying, 41 percent are unsure if they make too much noise while enjoying crunchy snacks.

The problem is particularly pronounced among gamers, as a separate survey found that 35 percent of respondents believe the sound of someone eating a snack frustrates them.

But 29 percent went so far as to say it impacts their performance, and 18 percent say it actually makes them want to log out.

And 47 percent named chip eaters as the worst offenders.

Still, eating and gaming go hand in hand: 86 percent of gamers say they eat a snack while gaming.

The technology would also allow those working from home to eat chips while dialing into a call – if they wish.

Dylan Fashbaugh of Smooth Technology said: “I jumped at the opportunity to create the first ever ‘silent’ tortilla chip.

“As a gamer myself, I can attest that nothing unnerves me more than the sound of someone else eating a delicious snack.

“After testing more than 5,000 crunch sounds and carefully training the software to remove the sound, this launch means everyone can enjoy Doritos while suppressing the crunch.”

Of the 2,000 gamers surveyed via OnePoll, 36 percent said they often eat while playing – but the figure for 18 to 24 year olds was 44 percent.

More than a quarter (29 percent) were distracted by the sounds of others while snacking and said it affected their performance or prevented them from playing well.

And 15 percent thought it also put their teammates off.

A Doritos spokesperson said: “It’s been difficult to keep quiet about this… but we are finally able to announce the launch of our ‘crunch cancellation’ technology.”

“We know the nation loves the savory crunch of our tortilla chips, but hearing someone else enjoy them can be off-putting.

“That’s why we set out to create the first-ever AI-powered ‘silent’ snack, and after months of expert development, people across the country can finally pick up a microphone silently.”

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