Noise cancelling microphones also known as unidirectional microphones are microphones
designed to minimize the background noise on a microphone and concentrate on putting more emphasis on the talker's voice.
Noise cancelling microphone uses various techniques to avoid background noise from coming in on the phone. The practical idea was to create a secondary and primary microphone. What electronics and acoustics experts did was to maximize wanted voice and minimize unwanted noise.
The desired source of sound is placed nearest to the primary microphone while the secondary microphone also catches the voice from the primary source of sound thus enhancing the sound from the desired source.
Most noise-cancelling microphones would already have the following features built in:
1. active noise control
2. volume and speaker command
3. ear foams and comfortable headbands
4. clear sound and audio
5. good headphone sound and audio quality
6. long wire
It wouldn't be enough to rely on the noise-cancelling microphone to make sure that the other person on the line can hear you. It is also important that you situate yourself in an area where there are less background noise like in a glass windowed office or in a sound proof room.
Although, it helps that we stay in a quiet place, we also can't help but answer a phone call while we are in an airplane, or a vehicle. Thus, the noise-cancelling microphone plays a big part in keeping our phone communications clear.
Most call center industries maintain a quiet atmosphere to allow their agents to talk while not being disturbed by other agents taking calls. It is important that customers don't have problems hearing the agent on the phone.
The most popular microphone that has noise-cancelling feature is the Sennheiser PC 130 headset and the Cobra HG M77 Highgear. The Sennheiser is one of the requirements needed if you want to teach and talk to a student online.
Keep in mind though that most peripheral devices have problems with their drivers on the computer although most are just plug and play microphones an easy to install.