Paper speakers go a
long way back, but now finally seem close to making appearances in the real world. A few weeks ago it was researchers at the University of Warwick showing off their
wispy wares, and now Taiwan's
Industrial Technology Research Institute is talking up its thin tweeters, called Flexpeaker. The initial goal is for 8.5-inch by 11-inch sheets that cost about $20, but the hope is to produce whole rolls of the stuff in the not too distant future, which will then be liberally applied to the exteriors of movie theaters, the interiors of automobiles, and the sides of the thinnest of thin-panel TVs. An effective range of 500Hz to 20KHz leaves an awful lot of lower frequencies lacking, but perhaps someone will invent a paper subwoofer one of these days. High-pitched video of an earlier prototype after the break.
posted Apr 28th 2009 8:18AM
That is pretty neat technology. It looks very durable and the life span for some of our favorite posters will last significantly longer. Any specific real reason that this technology is going to be used for?
I have a few ideas for uses:
1) advertising(unfortunately)
2) home theater wallpaper/posters
3) outdoor speakers for your backyard
4) if it's waterproof, it's perfect for showers and swimming pools
...and just think if it could be combined with e-ink
U LEFT IT OPEN BABY!!!
5) ???
6) PROFIT !!!!
------
5) FINALLY, a reasonable (and worth talking/telling us about) E-Reader.
6) Digital Photo frame thing-a-majig
Well I can see many people using it for ... (drum roll) ... PORN!
It'll be good for blind people to read posters and whatnot
cool, now i can listen to music in class and pretend to pay attention with writing
Somehow I imagine someone turning this material into a shirt, and me being even more pissed at people who blare their down syndrome music on the bus/subway.
Advertsing ala Minority Report?
At last, a flat-panel speaker we can use to confuse bats.
At last, an "exterior wall covering" I can use to punish dogs in my neighborhood.
So when's the psychedelic Bob Marley one going to be available?
If that's the current model pictured above it should have been left "Way back then". It looks very retro. The slogan will read: Looks from the 70's but sounds from the future. I also wonder if it sounds different when you bend it the way it is pictured here?
But can you say the same thing in different words FOUR times instead of three?
Sounds great for something that thin.
500hz is the low end? Ouch, that isn't so good...you'd have to supplement it with a woofer to get the nice rich depth, but it'd be cool to use this in a room and put a woofer right in front...and how much is the output in wattage? If it's low, I don't want to have to wallpaper my house with the thing just to get good coverage...
Upper range of 200Khz? I believe the range of human hearing is 20 hz to 20Khz.
Upper range of 200Khz? I believe the range of human hearing is 20 hz to 20Khz.
Reading the original article it should be 50Hz-20KHz,
and the price they are targeting is $20 for an A2 sheet which is roughly 4 times as large as the US Letter (8.5 x 11 inches). A4 is almost the same size as Letter, A3 double that, and A2 is double the A3.
Come on Engadget, Bose already uses paper subwoofers... and speakers.
:p
is no one like "that's totally mediatronic plz make wireless and add rod logic"?
great tech..horrible video..looks like the Chinese version of George from Seinfeld