An online company has begun marketing¹ an "Anti Vuvuzela Filter" that promises to silence the sound of the controversial plastic trumpets² that have become the trademark³ of South Africa's World Cup.

备受争议的“呜呜祖拉”加油工具已成为南非世界杯的一大标志，日前，一家网络公司推出了一种据称可消除这种塑料喇叭所发出的噪音的“呜呜祖拉滤声器”。

A Dutch supporter blows a vuvuzela at Soccer City stadium in Soweto, near Johannesburg. An online company has begun marketing an "Anti Vuvuzela Filter".

The company's web site, antivuvuzelafilter.com, sells an MP3 audio file for 2.95 euros (3.60 dollars) that the company says will cancel the vuvuzela noise for TV viewers by producing a sound wave similar to the horn's that cancels the noise.

"Just download our specially⁴ designed vuvuzela noise cancellation⁵ MP3 and play it back on your home stereo system, computer, iPod, iPhone, etc.," the website says.

"Depending on the circumstances, the resulting soundwave may be so faint（虚弱的，模糊的） as to be inaudible（听不见的） to human ears."

But Anthony Sullivan, a physicist⁶ at South Africa's Rhodes University, called the idea "a marketing hype（大肆宣传） and a waste of money."

"Noise cancelling depends on specific positions. You're not going to get that cancelling," he said.

His advice to those who don't like hearing the vuvuzela?

"Mute the TV."