Carbon nanotubes could be used in film-like flat speakers

Seriously, is there anything carbon nanotubes can't do? We've got shock absorbers, flexible displays, atypically small eating utensils and now, film-like speakers. For times when NXT flat drivers simply aren't thin enough, a team of Chinese researchers have reportedly found a way to create sound from a thin sheet of carbon nanotubes. The film, which could be stretched and placed on PMPs, HDTVs or even clothing, can generate sound when "zapped with a varying electric current." Great, the perfect recipe for a new wave of Milli Vanilli copycats. A video of the tech can be seen after the jump.

[Via Physorg]

[max @ Nov 4th 2008 5:40AM]

Awesome tech.. future of the haunted houses... talking wallpaper hahahaha

[Flashpoint @ Nov 4th 2008 7:39AM]

Piezo-electric film can be used to make thin "speakers". Add that to OLED film screens and you could get a monitor THAT WAS WALLPAPER.

I think the next 10 years of gadgets will see some crazy stuff. I wonder what will be on Engadget today 2012?

[teej @ Nov 4th 2008 11:08AM]

nothing will be on Engadget in 2012...apocalypse-a-go-go!

[Taai @ Nov 4th 2008 5:47AM]

It's amazing! I can immagine my media player make sound not only on headphones. And this technology could reduce space wich needed for speakers. The most awesome thing is that there is no moving parts!
Great! Great! Greate! Can't wait to get one.
I wounder - how much decibels can it create?

[Ray Von Sixx @ Nov 4th 2008 5:55AM]

I didn't fart, my pants made that noise

[Bjsfreaked @ Nov 4th 2008 5:56AM]

I remember a adaptor that you could stick onto a surface to make it into a speaker but this is awesome.
You could do so much with this!!!
is there nothing those chinese can't do?????

[Wwhat @ Nov 4th 2008 6:46AM]

Uhm, speak out against their government?

[Wwhat @ Nov 4th 2008 6:47AM]

Although, soon they can say "I didn't say that, it was my jacket!"

[anantha92 @ Nov 4th 2008 8:04AM]

Produce good milk, make safe toys, protest against their regime.

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Nov 4th 2008 8:13AM]

Read this Blog!

[ed. @ Nov 4th 2008 6:02AM]

oooh imagine the home theatre surround sound opportunities with this with all your walls doubling as speakers. Full 360 degree sound...

[SimonRichards @ Nov 4th 2008 6:11AM]

Damn, what can't carbon nanotubes be used for?!

[KAIKAI @ Nov 4th 2008 8:11AM]

condoms??
wow...i probably gave someone out there an idea :D

[Ben M. @ Nov 4th 2008 9:05AM]

yes you did because they totally could. it would be stronger than steel and thinner than what is currently used

[Cornelius @ Nov 4th 2008 1:49PM]

Carbon nanotubes are very strong, but not tensile. And weaving them in such a way as to make them more flexible would lessen its ability to be waterproof. Any material based on carbon tends to be brittle.

I would imagine there are better materials to make condoms. Unfortunately, your ultra-thin, extra-strong super feel-good condom isn't possible yet.

[SiXiam @ Nov 4th 2008 6:39AM]

Well do they give you mesopheleoma or not?
(ie: cancer similar to asbestos exposure)

[Wwhat @ Nov 4th 2008 6:45AM]

As with asbestos, obviously not if it's bonded and contained.

[Wwhat @ Nov 4th 2008 6:44AM]

"singing or speaking jackets" anusing

[LarryLarryLarry @ Nov 4th 2008 10:37PM]

I'm pretty sure I don't want my jacket to reach 80 degrees C several times per second.

This is a much better tech for snow clothes than sound clothes.

[MarbleMind @ Nov 4th 2008 6:53AM]

Good explanation, very bad demo of the tech. I barely heard anything.

[KarlW @ Nov 4th 2008 7:04AM]

Same. Video was nice and informative, but I didn't hear anything coming from any carbon speakers.

[Anthony @ Nov 4th 2008 6:57AM]

nice, now just wait for ipod pants... it'll come watch!

[KarlW @ Nov 4th 2008 7:01AM]

There is such a thing as being too talented.

I hate this if it means more teenagers playing loud music on the bus. Other than that, it's cool.

[Richard Ahlquist @ Nov 4th 2008 7:16AM]

Friggin AWESOME! Why now that they are thinking carbon nanotubes may be as dangerous to our lungs as asebetos I cant think of a better way to spread them faster than to put them in speakers and crank it up! Thats it! With each flex of the material it can break off tiny fibers and project them into the ear! That way everyone in earshot can get lung cancer! Remind me to gouge my eardrums out later.....

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Nov 4th 2008 8:18AM]

I'll gouge out your eardrums for you for free. Just where did I put that buckeyball scraper...

[Ben M. @ Nov 4th 2008 9:09AM]

@soopergooman
you get an a+ =D

[Airmack @ Nov 4th 2008 11:32AM]

If Milli Vanilli used these 'speaker jackets', could they still do their jumping chest bumps?

[phanbouy @ Nov 4th 2008 12:24PM]

immoral!

[Nic Heath @ Nov 4th 2008 1:09PM]

How about Carbon Nanotube radios?

Fully integrated, Fully functional, Next best thing!

http://www.physics.berkeley.edu/research/zettl/projects/nanoradio/radio.html

[nathan.wong @ Nov 4th 2008 1:19PM]

My speakers already use plastic wrap and they sound awesome. The manufacturer, Martin Logan, told me so.

[kingu @ Nov 5th 2008 10:03AM]

Solid state speakers?