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Yamaha gets Fuji TV into InfoSound, to bring acoustic data transmission apps to tablets and phones
Remember Yamaha's InfoSound technology? If not, well, it's a bit of black magic that shoots data wirelessly to devices using an inaudible (to humans, anyway) 18kHz signal emitted from a speaker and received via microphone. Yamaha came up with the idea back before the ubiquity of WiFi-enabled TVs, and now it's partnered up with Fuji Television Network to develop apps for phones and tablets that use the tech. Keep in mind, InfoSound has a fairly short range (33 feet) and maxes out with a data rate of only 80 bits per second, so you won't be streaming sound or video. That said, it's a fat enough pipe to send out hyperlinks, so the apps seem destined for use in retail outlets and in conjunction with digital signage to make it easy for folks to navigate to websites or receive store coupons. Further details are few and far between for now, but what info we do have can be found in the PR after the break.
Yamaha InfoSound prototype talks to your phone as you zone out during TV commercials
Of all the things that the ol' boob tube does well, directing viewers to advertiser's websites is not one of them. In an era where most TVs are still not internet connected, Yamaha has dreamt up a canny work around: the technique, dubbed InfoSound, plays an inaudible (18 kHz or higher) signal over your TV's audio track that can be picked up by your smartphone's mic and read with a custom app. Of course, the thing is not exactly high bandwidth, but even with a range of roughly 33 feet and a rate of 80 bps, this should be fine for transmitting a URL. Just imagine! Never again will you have to choose between the Saturday afternoon Weekend at Bernie's double-header and printing out a coupon for the Jiffy Lube.
