Speakers to Get Invisibility Cloaks
Linked by Jordan Spencer Cunningham on Thu 29th Jan 2009 01:18 UTC
Multimedia, AV Calm down, calm down. It was simply a manner of speech. No, they haven't developed the all too popular garments that render the wearer invisible, but we are about to take a look at some pretty spiffy technology that will doubtlessly save you some space in the family room as well as give you something to brag about to your somewhat less technologically inclined friends: "invisible" speakers.
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Great idea for laptops
by David on Thu 29th Jan 2009 03:03 UTC
David
Member since:
1997-10-01

Laptop speakers suck, generally speaking, so I don't think the bar would be that high to improve on the quality. I hope this technology lives up to its promise. I wonder how different the power consumption is on one of these vs the electromagnet-type speaker?

Reply Score: 5

yes!!
by pixel8r on Thu 29th Jan 2009 03:36 UTC
pixel8r
Member since:
2007-08-11

anything to reduce the number of things on my desk!!

where do i sign?

Reply Score: 2

One small question
by dvhh on Thu 29th Jan 2009 04:13 UTC
dvhh
Member since:
2006-03-20

Can it be combined with touchscreen?

Reply Score: 1

Sounds great.
by tux68 on Thu 29th Jan 2009 04:15 UTC
tux68
Member since:
2006-10-24

Sounds great, but I wonder how well this meshes with the budding trend toward touch screens?

Edit: Jinx, you owe me a coke

Edited 2009-01-29 04:17 UTC

Reply Score: 2

This is mono, right?
by iain.dalton on Thu 29th Jan 2009 05:02 UTC
iain.dalton
Member since:
2006-02-28

This produces mono sound, right? Or at least, each membrane is one speaker, so if you have a membrane on a monitor, it'll be mono. This is certainly useful, but it won't replace my desktop speakers.

Reply Score: 3

RE: This is mono, right?
by darknexus on Thu 29th Jan 2009 08:11 UTC in reply to "This is mono, right?"
darknexus Member since:
2008-07-15

This produces mono sound, right? Or at least, each membrane is one speaker, so if you have a membrane on a monitor, it'll be mono.

True, but why not just have two of them on the monitor, one per channel? It wouldn't give you maximum stereo separation, but you're not going to have that from monitor speakers anyway.
I agree this may not replace desktop speakers, but it sure would be awesome to have in a netbook or other laptop.

Reply Score: 2

RE[2]: This is mono, right?
by iain.dalton on Thu 29th Jan 2009 08:16 UTC in reply to "RE: This is mono, right?"
iain.dalton Member since:
2006-02-28

Well, to have two speakers, or membranes, you'd have to have one covering your screen's left half and another its right. A seam would show in the middle. Also, I don't know how this works, so you might need those motors on all four sides of each membrane.

Edited 2009-01-29 08:17 UTC

Reply Score: 1

RE: This is mono, right?
by Brendan on Thu 29th Jan 2009 10:43 UTC in reply to "This is mono, right?"
Brendan Member since:
2005-11-16

Hi,

This produces mono sound, right? Or at least, each membrane is one speaker, so if you have a membrane on a monitor, it'll be mono. This is certainly useful, but it won't replace my desktop speakers.


I'm thinking that a large plane like that wouldn't be too good for high frequency sounds, but might be perfect for low frequency sounds.

I'm thinking small tweeters on the left/right, smallish midrange electromagnetic speakers on the left/right, and one bass speaker built into the LCD screen.


Cheers,

Brendan

Reply Score: 3

RE: This is mono, right?
by 3rdalbum on Thu 29th Jan 2009 12:15 UTC in reply to "This is mono, right?"
3rdalbum Member since:
2008-05-26

Dual-screen laptops are just around the corner - do I smell a match made in heaven? :-)

Reply Score: 1

RE[2]: This is mono, right?
by Soulbender on Thu 29th Jan 2009 12:29 UTC in reply to "RE: This is mono, right?"
Soulbender Member since:
2005-08-18

So to get proper stereo sound you would sort of have to look in the middle between the two screens? ;)

Reply Score: 2

RE[3]: This is mono, right?
by JPowers on Thu 29th Jan 2009 15:17 UTC in reply to "RE[2]: This is mono, right?"
JPowers Member since:
2007-11-10

No, No, No...

You look at the middle screen. You just need 2 17" screens for the left and right tweeter plus your main 23" screen for the subwoofer.

Think of it this way; for home audio you could purchase "Picture Frames" with build in speakers (you'll need to supply your own artwork) which you would then locate around the room for surround sound. The Big Screen TV becomes the subwoofer. I don't see any issues with this setup.

Anything is better then the tinny mono speaker found in most laptops.

PS: This can't be used with a touchscreen. (It could but touching the screen would mute the sound).

Reply Score: 2

shmzr
Member since:
2007-08-06

From this article
http://www.designnews.com/article/162563-Screening_Emo_Labs_New_Spe...

"On either end, piezo actuators tug on the membrane at an extremely fast rate to create terrific (my words ... I heard it) stereo sound. The left speaker is on that side of the membrane while the other side houses the right side speaker (remember, the membrane is the speaker. There are no speaker speakers, if you will)."

Obviously not as good as speakers placed all over a room, but just as good or better than regular speakers attached to the side of the monitor.

Reply Score: 1

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