A product for detecting people approaching an isolated user, discouraging the detected people from disturbing the user, and for taking messages from the approaching people. The product may be embodied in noise-canceling headphones that the user is wearing, for example. The product can include a camera and a microphone that can detect approaching people. The product can also include an externally-facing speaker that can play an audio message to the approaching person to attempt to discourage the person from disturbing the user. The product can also prompt the person to leave a message for the user and then record the subsequent message. The user can review the message at a later time.