Korean startup to produce thin, transparent speakers
posted May 31st 2005 10:37AM
We thought the NXT SoundVu — which overlays a
transparent speaker on a laptop display — was a clear winner, but now we can see through the hype and acknowledge
another developer's more flexible option. South Korean startup Plasma and Ion Beam Corp. is working to commercialize a
speaker made of thin, plastic film, which was first developed back in 2001. Developer Koh Seok-keun claims the speakers
offer fidelity on par with conventional speakers at frequencies of 300 Hz or higher, and that they can be rolled, cut
and bent for use in everything from computer displays to banners and flags. Koh expects commercial applications to
begin appearing as soon as this July or August. We can't wait to see what Christo does with this.
[Via Near Near Future]
sweet, combine it with e-paper and we'll get multimedia newspapers and Y2K 20 here we are!
Anyone know if anything like this (SoundVu or SurfaceSound) is currently available for home/car audio applications? I really like the idea of using my windshield/windows as transducers, but the only thing I've found so far are the bulky SoundsPads at Thinkgeek.com that are based on NXT's older technology. GM made a few concept cars using SurfaceSound back in 2001, but I've yet to see anything commercially available yet.
I'll believe this when I hear it. 300Hz is a pretty high starting point for a competitive frequency range -at least as far as mid-range speakers go. Might work for really small form factor, but at far as quality audio...they'll have to prove that one.
Wallpaper man, wallpaper!
The snozzberries taste like snozzberries!
^^^
Until that day comes, no tecnology-infused wallpaper will make it into my house.
"South Korean startup Plasma and Ion Beam Corp. is working to commercialize a speaker made of thin" It's ARE working, gosh. ;)
Citrate-
Though it sounds like two companies, Plasma and Ion Beam Corp. is a singular corporate entity. Therefore, the company IS working on this technology.
Anyone know what happens to a laptop display when you crank up the bass?
#8, I think I see what you're saying, but if you're insinuating that these speakers are going to output anything close to bass frequencies...um, no. That's not to say that combining the higher frequencies with the screen isn't going to wreak havoc on the display as well.
http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000783026558/