A technology developed by The British Ministry of Defense to silence helicopters has benefits for the consumer market.
This new flat-panel surface can enable speakers to be placed on cell phones (making them thinner) and car roof liners (for stereo speakers). The MoD sold the technology to a Cambridge-Based company called NXT. They have crafted this “SurfaceSound” into Toyotas, Gateway computers, and even Hallmark greeting Cards.
The MoD’s design was developed to silence the sounds of the blades of helicopters. The design did just the opposite. The honeycomb material conducted sound, not dampened it. With that, they sold it off.
At this week’s Consumer Electronics Show NXT has been showing off the 14 mm thick speakers with an iPod Nano to great revues. They have also made a transparent screen called a “SoundVu” on placed it on a Gateway all-in-one for “invisible speakers”. With the ability to have 6 zones the “SoundVu” allows users to chat with 6 people at once.
Car maker Toyota has announced they will place the roof speakers in four of its models.
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