Conversation assistant for noisy environments

A method for allowing a user of a wireless communications device to engage in a conversation with one or more parties, where the communications device includes an infrared receiver and an FM demodulator, the method comprising:

• receiving incoming infrared waves using the infrared receiver, where the receiver is operable to substantially receive infrared waves that originate from sources substantially in a limited angular range relative to the direction in which the user is facing, and where the receiver attenuates infrared waves from sources outside the limited angular range;
• demodulating said incoming infrared waves using the FM demodulator to form demodulated audio signals;
• providing said demodulated audio signals to a listening user.

A wireless speech communication system comprising:

• a plurality of directional infrared receivers facing radially outward from a central location, where each infrared receiver is operable to receive infrared waves that originate from sources substantially within a limited angular range;
• a plurality of FM demodulators for demodulating said incoming infrared waves to form demodulated audio signals;
• a mixing bus for mixing said demodulated audio signals to form an aggregated signal.