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Inflatable Loudspeakers

fm6 sent in an article running at New Scientist talking about new technology that allows Inflatable Loud Speakers. The technology is apparently patented and there's not a lot of technical details, but I have to say the concept amuses me. And I somehow doubt that this technology will ever be used in high fidelity home systems.

207 comments

  1. Perfect! by Renraku · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Inflatable loud speakers are great for things like parties involving drugs or alcohol. Now when you pass out you won't take out a speaker (or a hip) when you fall to the ground, but land safely on an inflatable speaker. Might deafen you though if you're out for too long... Other uses could include 'stimulation' of various parts which I won't mention. Mainly pertains to females, though.

    --
    Job? I don't have time to get a job! Who will sit around and bitch about being broke and unemployed then?
  2. Well, just another device by epsalon · · Score: 2, Funny

    you need to blow air into for it to play sounds...
    Flute, anyone?

    1. Re:Well, just another device by Marcus+Brody · · Score: 2
      Blow up loud speakers?

      I did this years ago to my wolfendale's - playing napalm death with the amp turned up to 11...

      BOOM!

      "Was the big bang louder than drum & bass?" -- AliG
  3. My Inflateable Life by MBCook · · Score: 5, Funny
    This should go great with my inflateable couch, pillows, and girl :)

    All I need now is an inflateable stero and some inflateable CDs. Seriously though, how cool is this? And wouldn't it be awesome to inflate/deflate them while their ON? Bet that would sound awesome.

    --
    Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
    1. Re:My Inflateable Life by PD · · Score: 5, Funny

      This should go great with my inflateable couch, pillows, and girl :)

      With all that, I'm surprised that your ego isn't inflated.

    2. Re:My Inflateable Life by Glytch · · Score: 2

      Absolutely right. There's something about the concept of moving an apartment's worth of furniture in a Volkswagen Golf that's just too cool to fathom.

      *Sigh* But I have to have lame wooden stuff... oh well.

    3. Re:My Inflateable Life by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The VW Golf could carry whatever it wants to. The problem is, most of the time it doesn't actually feel like carrying anything big.

      -- Ermie is wonderful

    4. Re:My Inflateable Life by snake_dad · · Score: 2
      *Sigh* But I have to have lame wooden stuff... oh well.

      Well, no one is stopping you from blowing *that* up :-)

      --
      karma capped .sig seeking available Slashdot poster for long-term relationship.
    5. Re:My Inflateable Life by astr0boy · · Score: 1

      If he relies on an inflatable girl he should be incredibly depressed.

      --

      -----
      so i says to mable, i says

    6. Re:My Inflateable Life by billcopc · · Score: 2, Funny

      Does that mean that a Real Life comes with a RealCouch, RealPillows, RealDoll and RealSpeakers ? Would that make you a RealPlayer ?

      --
      -Billco, Fnarg.com
    7. Re:My Inflateable Life by oconnelm · · Score: 1

      or have a RealEgo inflated or otherwise

  4. that's not the only thing... by lyapunov · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    inflatable that amuses me

    --

    Either give it away or get top dollar, but never sell yourself cheap.
  5. Perfect... by owenPS · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    ...for all the rock groups that blow.

  6. Poor roadies? by dimer0 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Since when do roadies complain of back problems? Is this opening the doors up to elderly women who want to travel with bands and set up stages? A 4x12 cabinet is not that heavy at all, some even have wheels, and most of them have handles. They're not awkward. I used to lug mine around when I was a 120 pound stick in high school.. Ah well.

    Also, if these things are so light, it would be funny to see the speakers push so much air that the air-cabinet starts floating away.. I wouldn't dare stack these things, a gust of wind could stop a concert..

    This definitely didn't have to change.. I just hope it's a proof of concept, and they'll find something better to apply this technology to at a later time.. (Pool speakers???)

    1. Re:Poor roadies? by fgodfrey · · Score: 3, Informative

      You obviously haven't tried stacking a medium to large sized PA. I've helped set up stacks of TurboSound speakers 3 high/3 wide + subs (ok, I know, that's not an enormous setup, but it's not for your bedroom either) and while they have wheels, they are quite awkward and heavy. However, I strongly suspect that these speakers will sound pretty bad at high volumes when the bladder starts to vibrate, but hey, I could be wrong. They would certainly look interesting, though :)

      --
      Go Badgers! -- #include "std/disclaimer.h"
    2. Re:Poor roadies? by spudnic · · Score: 2, Funny

      Actually you may have hit upon a great idea... Fill them up with helium and let the speakers float above the crowd! Talk about trippy.

      Quick, patent it!

      --
      load "linux",8,1
    3. Re:Poor roadies? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I hear ya, I've stacked turbo too, we own EAW at 200lbs per cabinet, groundstacking takes a lot out of you.

      mikeyB

    4. Re:Poor roadies? by kfg · · Score: 3, Informative

      Most of them, actually. It is, litrally, backbreaking work.

      Bear in mind also that speakers often have to be hauled to *hights.* The wheels are useless then. With inflatables you haul could haul 'em up deflated and inflate them in place. Windage wouldn't be a problem, they would be cabled in place, * just as they are now.*

      One more factor is space. Did you know that when you buy a box of breakfast cereal the cereal itself only costs you about a quarter? Transporting the BOX takes up much of the rest of the price. A Smaller and lighter transport package means less space and fuel needed just to haul the buggers around.

      I have hauled my own PA. It's a pain in the neck, back and elsewhere. I'd love an inflatable rig.

      I've also worked on a professional crew, and let me tell you, hauling your own PA around is NOTHING compared to hauling in, setting up, and hauling out, two truckloads of speakers, day, after day, after day.

      Come to think of it, I've never known a roadie who DIDN'T complain of back trouble. It's the main reason for retirement.

      KFG

    5. Re:Poor roadies? by Mandelbrute · · Score: 1
      Also, if these things are so light, it would be funny to see the speakers push so much air that the air-cabinet starts floating away..
      Looks like the roadies still have a job, they'll just need a lot more duct tape!

      If you shift the frequency of the sound down a bit (maybe with a bit of compression too) pumping the sound out of helium filled speakers shouldn't be a problem.

    6. Re:Poor roadies? by Kinetix303 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Yeah, I used to set up raves and concerts with 16 S4 boxes and I thought those were hell.... then moved on to kits with 16 DAS RF-215s and 16 custom Dual JBL 18" in DAS cabinets and I thought those were hell. Then we moved to EAW stacks, which were seemingly endless and seemingly infinitely heavy.

      What we decided was that the most efficient way for roadies to lift and setup large kits was just to numb our bodies by quickly slamming back three beers and running to install the gear in that period where we were numb but before we got clumsy.

      Worked like a charm.

    7. Re:Poor roadies? by Andux · · Score: 1
      Fill them up with helium and let the speakers float above the crowd! Talk about trippy.

      Gotta wonder what helium-filled speakers would sound like, though...

      "Whoa, duuude! These guys are, like, Alvin and the Chipmunks!"
      "Nah, dude, that's just the new speakers."
      "Far out!"

      --
      (Do not sign anything.) -- Fell, Planescape: Torment
    8. Re:Poor roadies? by malfunct · · Score: 1
      Um? I don't think filling the speakers with helium would change the frequency the speaker operates at because thats driven by an electronic occilator of some sort. Anyways you would fill the bladders with helium, not the rest of the cabinet.

      I am fairly certain that the phenomina that causes our voices to get higher pitched when we inhale helium and then talk would not affect speakers filled with helium since the gas would have no part in driving the cones.

      --

      "You can now flame me, I am full of love,"

    9. Re:Poor roadies? by Mononoke · · Score: 1
      I hear ya, I've stacked turbo too, we own EAW at 200lbs per cabinet, groundstacking takes a lot out of you.
      Wimps.

      I had EV MT-4s. The tops weigh 367#.

      --
      NetInfo connection failed for server 127.0.0.1/local
    10. Re:Poor roadies? by Mandelbrute · · Score: 1
      I am fairly certain that the phenomina that causes our voices to get higher pitched when we inhale helium and then talk would not affect speakers filled with helium since the gas would have no part in driving the cones.
      If the part of the speaker which moves and generates the sound (the cone) is in the helium on its outer face , then the higher wave speed of the helium (different speed of sound) will change the pitch. If it is in air then it won't - the same as when you talk underwater you still sound about the same - because you have a larynx full of air and not water.

      If all the sound then follows the same path (through the same amount of helium) then it will sound OK. If some sound travels all of the way through air and some through helium and air, then there will be a noticable echo if (a) you are close to the speakers or (b) the helium filled bladders are really big.

    11. Re:Poor roadies? by togofspookware · · Score: 1
      If the part of the speaker which moves and generates the sound (the cone) is in the helium on its outer face , then the higher
      wave speed of the helium (different speed of sound) will change the pitch. If it is in air then it won't - the same as when you
      talk underwater you still sound about the same - because you have a larynx full of air and not water.


      Wouldn't the pitch remain the same as long as the speakers vibrate at the same rate? Wouldn't the sound just travel at a different speed, but still have the same frequency (although a different wavelength)? Huh.
      --
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    12. Re:Poor roadies? by togofspookware · · Score: 1

      Oh yeah. That's what you were saying. Never mind.
      Sorry I screwed up on the blockquote. That was supposed to be html-formatted.

      --
      Duct tape, XML, democracy: Not doing the job? Use more.
    13. Re:Poor roadies? by Mandelbrute · · Score: 1
      Wouldn't the pitch remain the same as long as the speakers vibrate at the same rate? Wouldn't the sound just travel at a different speed, but still have the same frequency (although a different wavelength)? Huh.
      There's a good description here of what happens when you speak with a throat full of helium, complete with sound files to demonstrate. To sum things up, there is an APPARENT change in pitch due to the waveform changing.

      A similar thing should happen with a speaker, since the sound will resonate through the gas within the speaker cone.

    14. Re:Poor roadies? by borgboy · · Score: 1

      Since when do roadies complain of back problems?

      This one is still seeing a chiropractor, and I haven't been on the road in 5 years. Try picking up a 600a 240/120v transformer for a couple of months. Not everybody limits their tours to the US.

      --
      meh.
    15. Re:Poor roadies? by roman_mir · · Score: 2

      Screw Helium, let's fill'em up with Hydrogen and paint with some aluminum paint (the more explosive the better) at the end of a concert an electric spark must be set on the speakers' surface so that the speakers must burst into flames and blow up, now that's enterntainment!

    16. Re:Poor roadies? by malfunct · · Score: 1

      From that explanation all I can think that filling the speaker with helium would do is be much brighter than the same system without the helium. I also have a feeling that the effect will be minimal because everything I have read about them says they work to avoid resonance of the cabinet.

      --

      "You can now flame me, I am full of love,"

    17. Re:Poor roadies? by binarybum · · Score: 1
      Have you ever spoken to a roadie about his dorsal health? I myself have thrown my back twice, and even disfigured my pinky finger from lifting JVC high boxes. I know fellow workers that have even more chronic back pain than myself.

      This inflatable technology doesn't sound very promising though. I believe that the drivers are the bulk of the weight (carbon fiber cased drivers don't seem much lighter to me). I wonder how these things would be to stack as well since I'm picturing them having rounded edges.

      --
      ôó
  7. Waterproof? by Schrodinger's+Mouse · · Score: 1

    If they were waterproof, or water-resistant, they'd be very popular with outdoor venues - don't have to worry too much about the rain that way. That said, if they were waterproof, there'd be some moron trying to use them in his swimming pool.

    --

    *****

    There are many people in this country who, through no fault of their own, are sane.

    1. Re:Waterproof? by spudnic · · Score: 1

      From the article it appears that the inflatable part is the box. The drivers are mounted on a board that has several air bladders attached to it in case one pops during the conert. Now who would make a game of popping the speaker cases at a concert? Hmmmm?

      --
      load "linux",8,1
    2. Re:Waterproof? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That said, if they were waterproof, there'd be some moron trying to use them in his swimming pool.

      That actually sounds like a cool idea!

  8. yeah by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Loudspeakers", huh?
    Is that what you crazy kids call it now?

  9. Helium? by infinite9 · · Score: 5, Funny

    If you fill them with helium, will your music sound like the chipmonks?

    --
    Disconnect your television. Do your own research. Draw your own conclusions. They're probably lying. Don't be a sheep.
    1. Re:Helium? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you fill them with helium you had better attach a little note to them reading Please return to sender.

    2. Re:Helium? by dimer0 · · Score: 1

      I don't get it.

    3. Re:Helium? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If they were filled with heliem, they'd float away, necessitating a note telling where to send it if/when it comes back down to earth.

    4. Re:Helium? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      helium gas is actually lighter than our normal air. air is made up of several different gasses and vapors, including oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and sperm vapor.

      Sperm vapor is very heavy, as the sperm themselves like to swim downward.

      Helium is technically "anti-sperm", and as a result, swims upward. This is why helium balloons appear to float - it's actually the tiny sperms in the sperm vapor trying to swim away from the ground.

    5. Re:Helium? by The_Shadows · · Score: 1

      Ohhhh.... that's an absurdly easy way to store your speakers in an out of the way place. Mobile flying speakers!

    6. Re:Helium? by MikeyNg · · Score: 1

      If you fill them with helium, will your music sound like the chipmonks?


      Surprisingly enough, yes it will. Helium is lighter than air - less dense. The reduced density would raise the pitch accordingly.

      --
      Where the wind blows, the tumbleweed goes.
    7. Re:Helium? by Reality+Master+101 · · Score: 2

      Would it? The sound waves might possibly travel faster through helium because they don't have to vibrate as much mass, but would it change the pitch? The pitch is the vibrational velocity of the medium. I don't see how just a lighter medium would cause the pitch to rise.

      Or to put it another way, the cone of the speaker is moving the gas at a certain rate. What would cause the gas to accelerate to a different rate?

      Now, it's possible that you would get better high range out of the speaker in a lighter medium, because the speaker doesn't have to move as much mass. Just like I can vibrate a feather about the same rate as a small rock, but I couldn't vibrate a 5 pound weight very quickly.

      --
      Sometimes it's best to just let stupid people be stupid.
    8. Re:Helium? by RetroGeek · · Score: 1

      Clavin lives!!!

      --

      - - - - - - - - - - -
      I am a programmer. I am paid to produce syntax not grammar. Deal with it.
    9. Re:Helium? by MikeyNg · · Score: 1

      Upon further consideration, I believe you're right. The sound itself travelling through the lighter medium doesn't raise the pitch. It's the fact that the speakers are driving a lighter medium that would do the trick. F=ma, and the force would be the same, moving regular air or lighter air. The decrease in mass would increase the acceleration -> higher velocity (v=at). This assumes that things like throw, etc. are the same.


      This is why you sound higher when you inhale helium also. Your lungs = speakers in this example, moving lighter air.

      --
      Where the wind blows, the tumbleweed goes.
    10. Re:Helium? by malfunct · · Score: 1
      I really don't think this is the same at all.

      In the speakers you have an electronic driver that hits a particular frequency based on the timings of the circuit.

      In the case of your lungs you have a string driven by the gas itself. I don't exactly know what causes the string (your vocal cords) in this case to vibrate faster but it has to do with the interaction of the gas and the cords. In the speakers you would just get a wierd response because the pressures on each side would be different.

      --

      "You can now flame me, I am full of love,"

    11. Re:Helium? by MikeyNg · · Score: 1

      Hmmm... interesting points. So maybe the helium wouldn't raise the pitch? Maybe just the sound would go through slower, and that's about it?


      The vocal cords (chords?) open and close selectively. I think it's like when you are releasing air from a balloon and you squeeze the end where the sound is coming out. (That's the first analogy I could think of.) You can alter pitch by altering the width of the opening that the sound (air) is coming through.


      Yeah, I wonder what the response of the speakers would be. Hmmm... what started out as a joke has now become an (almost) serious discussion!

      --
      Where the wind blows, the tumbleweed goes.
    12. Re:Helium? by freq · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      When i was just a little kid @ church camp, i released a balloon with a note attached and someone actually contacted me who picked up the balloon, but i was a lazy little kid and I never wrote them back.

      I had forgotten about it until just now, and it makes me a little sad that i didn't complete the circuit.

      --
      "Tension is the great integrity" -- R. Buckminster Fuller
    13. Re:Helium? by zmooc · · Score: 1

      No they won't; imagine what the sound would look like in a sound editor. Now to lower te pitch, what do you do? Stretch the sound so the same amount of data will take a longer time to play and will have a lower pitch (if that's not logical to you, imagine a vinyl player at at pitch too low). Now imagine the same effect if it was caused by helium. The sound would take longer to play. Imagine that! You could store sound by sending it through a helium baloon:) Or even better! Record a song at a few times the pitch so it only takes a few seconds to play but sounds like shit. Now play it through a high-frequency player and send the noise through a sufficiently large enough helium baloon. On the other end the song will come out just as you recorded it but:) INCREDIBLE!
      So...sorry but helium won't change the pitch. What it may change is the speed of the sound within the baloon; it's probably different from the speed of sound in earths atmosphere.

      --
      0x or or snor perron?!
    14. Re:Helium? by Reality+Master+101 · · Score: 2

      My understanding of the helium effect is that the lighter gas coming from your lungs causes the gas to go past your vocal cords faster, thus causing a higher pitched sound. This is in contrast to how a speaker works, which is to vibrate a cone at a certain rate, independent of the surrounding gas.

      --
      Sometimes it's best to just let stupid people be stupid.
    15. Re:Helium? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The pitch would be changed. The sounds move faster in the helium than they would in normal air, but once they hit the real atmosphere, they would slow down. This would result in the sound waves bunching together, a smaller wavelength, and a higher-pitched sound.

    16. Re:Helium? by zmooc · · Score: 1

      A higher pitched sound will always be shorter than the original sound by the same factor the pitch has gone op. How would you explain the shorter sound? Let's imagine you're right and the pitch rises by 10% because. The sound will also be 10% shorter. So at t=0 I start playing a sample that plays 100 seconds. It takes a little time for the sound to go throug the helium, so let's say the sound `starts playing' outside the helium at t=1. The length of the sample is 10% shorter outside of the helium. So it stops playing @ t=1+90=91. But the interesting part is....the sound would stop playing @ t=100 inside the helium. The helium has in fact made up those 9 seconds all by it self?:)
      Obviously you're wrong. The sound may travel faster within the helium, but the waves will arrive in exact the same pattern as they were produced. No speedup.

      --
      0x or or snor perron?!
    17. Re:Helium? by CorporateProgrammerD · · Score: 1
      Just in case you're serious:


      Get a helium balloon.


      Make a hole in it (carefully).


      Inhale a lungful of the helium.


      Exhale.


      Talk.


      You'll understand.

      --
      To email, do the obvious.
    18. Re:Helium? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But I imagine that a speaker in water wouldn't be able to move as fast. They have special speakers for that. Heavy air is also a fluid denser than helium...

  10. Awkward by Renraku · · Score: 1

    "Ellula's speakers resemble brightly coloured audio beach balls and are aimed at the home, for use with portable stereos and computers." They're ones to talk about things being awkward..imagine having beachballs for speakers. As if our desks weren't unstable and crowded enough already, we now have the option of using brightly colored beach balls for speakers..just great if you have kids..they'd spike the 'beach ball' into another room!

    --
    Job? I don't have time to get a job! Who will sit around and bitch about being broke and unemployed then?
    1. Re:Awkward by kfg · · Score: 1

      This makes absolutely no sense to me. Inflatables are clearly a pointless gimmik for most home use.

      The Greatful Dead, on the other hand, might well have loved these things to pieces. Literally.

      KFG

  11. spEakers by Matrix12 · · Score: 1, Interesting

    This technology would be great for rave parties. Inflatable speakers would transport easily, and be easy to leave behind. And you could shoot lasers and lights through them ;)

    Good for clubs, and gigging in general, I guess.

    .\\12

    1. Re:speakers by Kinetix303 · · Score: 1

      Yeah. That's great. Sorry guys, party is over, some idiot set his smoke down on the speaker...

      Wehen you're pumping out 25 kilowatts of sound, it doesn't make sense to use these... especially since you can't stack 'em.

  12. patented? by stickb0y · · Score: 2, Funny
    The technology is apparently patented and there's not a lot of technical details

    I thought the patent process requires that the inventor disclose information about how the product works, and after the patent expires the public can use it freely. Isn't it opposed to a trade secret, where the inventor doesn't get protection if someone else reverse-engineers the product or happens to invent the same thing independently?

    1. Re:patented? by geekoid · · Score: 4, Informative

      thats correct, the tech. details are disclosed in an american patent(can't speak for other countries, but its probably the same)
      If this is a patented item, as opposed to patent pending, you should be able to go th the US Patent and copyright website and look them up.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    2. Re:patented? by jedwards · · Score: 1

      There isn't a lot of information in the New Scientist article.
      There should be more info in the patent

    3. Re:patented? by hearingaid · · Score: 2

      RTFA.

      The company is cagey about details, but a patent describes one way in which an inflatable speaker might work.

      The disclosure's in the patent. Normally, companies with patents don't talk much in public: they're already giving stuff away in the patent, they don't want to give any more.

      --

      my old sig used to be funny, but then slashcode ate it and now it's not funny anymore

  13. Watch out for ricocheting guitars by MagnaMark · · Score: 4, Funny

    A speaker driver is mounted in a flat, rigid board bonded to a large bladder. When the bladder is inflated, it expands to form a box shape resembling a speaker cabinet.

    I'd like to see the first time someone tries to dramatically smash their guitar against the speakers at the end of a set.

  14. Predicted by Sluggy! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Hey, the sluggy.com comic has a character from the future who's job is to research "Inflatable Technology".

    The problem was, they used his Inflatable Time Machine(tm) to travel into the past, and it sprung a leak, stranding them.

  15. from the article by geekoid · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Inflatable loudspeakers could blow out roadies
    so now rock bands will want to set up there own system? including filling them full of air? what about the speaker itself, will that suddenly get lighter?

    talk about trying to market to a problem that doesn't exist, sheeesh.

    if all things are equal(same sound quality, etc,etc,etc...) then there only advantage is less storage space. Which is a cost savings advantge.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    1. Re:from the article by togofspookware · · Score: 1

      Why do the speakers even need a cabinet?

      My sig is too long. I should change it.

      --
      Duct tape, XML, democracy: Not doing the job? Use more.
    2. Re:from the article by klmth · · Score: 1

      Try listening to a speaker tied to the roof with strings. The sound is a bit thin, now isn't it?

      There are multiple reasons for using a cabinet. The obvious one is holding the speakers in place, and allowing the cones to vibrate. Handling a cabinet is far easier than handling loose speakers.

      In addition, speaker cabinets themselves have a certain frequency response, depending on the shape and the materials used. This enchances the sound.

      A good cabinet design also allows the speakers to drive air more efficiently. Speaker cabinet also usually have some amount of electronics in them, usually a band-pass filter the purpose of which is to cancel frequencies the speaker can't handle, thus avoiding unneccessary speaker damage and poor sound.

      It is still possibler to blow a speaker by doing stupid, stupid things. Ask any roadie or audio engineer.

  16. Perfect for... by trilucid · · Score: 1


    those impromptu van parties! Gotta have sound? No problem... you're at the beach anyhow, blowing up rafts and such, why not just toss in the speakers with 'em?

    Of course, you may run into trouble with those knife-wielding locals who stop by to "ask you nicely to turn it down"... oops, we lost another one, better get the pump out again. Anybody got a tire patch?

    Today must be silly invention day; first we've got those funky cell phones, then the uber-watch that runs Linux, now inflatable speakers to go with it all... I'd better stock up on my geek t-shirts now :-)

  17. XAO-3 by dankjones · · Score: 1
    This will come in handy if Good year ever brings back the XAO-3 Inflatoplane

  18. Nellie Furtado by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "I'm like the speaker, I want to float away"

  19. WHAT?!?! by anzha · · Score: 1

    And no one has mentioned filling them with helium yet...how disappointed I am! Watch them speakers float around...lol. For those tripping it'd be even more amusing.

    --
    Do you know why the road less traveled by is littered with the bones of the unwary?
    1. Re:WHAT?!?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not only that!

      The voices of all the singers would increase in pitch so that every song sounded like the
      Chipmunks.

  20. Surround sound? by serial+frame · · Score: 1

    Imagine a Beowulf cluster of these...!

    No, really. A set of them, inflated with helium and suspended with cables...could make for quite the sound experience. Also imagine the possibilities of using them in urban areas in emergency situations where information may need to be conveyed to a large amount of people.

    --

    -
    And the Angel said unto me, "These are the cries of the carrots! The cries of the carrots!"
    1. Re:Surround sound? by flewp · · Score: 1

      Instead of using them in emergencies, I think I will inflate them with helium, maybe fix some crazy light inside, and have it preach about it's "godness" and the fact that time is running out - REPENT! Float a hundred of those around the city, I'm sure you'd cause quite a stir. (Maybe some converts too?)

      --
      WWJD.... for a Klondike bar?
  21. Inflatable Technology by Alien54 · · Score: 4
    And I thought that the story line in Sluggy Freelance was a joke

    Now I am starting to get scared.

    --
    "It is a greater offense to steal men's labor, than their clothes"
    1. Re:Inflatable Technology by GospelHead821 · · Score: 1

      Then again, the future is a scary place. Scare it back! (Winux 2004 Edition T-Shirt)

      --
      Virtue finds and chooses the mean.
      Aristotle, Ethica Nichomachea
  22. RealSpeakers by Dolly_Llama · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'll to get some to entertain my *inflate* *inflate* girlfriend..

    --

    Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. -- Carl Sagan

  23. inflatable speaker go boom by trb · · Score: 2

    And if you want your bass to go boom, you over-inflate them.

  24. A.D. 2001 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Inflatable Speaker was beginning

    Captain: What happen??
    Crewman: Someone set up us the helium!!
    Crewman: We get signal. Main screen turn on.
    Captain: It's you!!
    Cats: How are you gentlemen??. All your speaker are belong to us!!
    ...

    For great justice!!

  25. Whole new meaning to... by The+Ape+With+No+Name · · Score: 1

    blown speakers. Guffaw.

    --
    Comparing it to Windows will be a moot point, since El Dorado is going to have a 40% larger code base than XP.
  26. I blew my speakers. by AX.25 · · Score: 1

    Literally.

    Extra lame stuff to pass the lameness filter.

    --
    What is pirate software? Software for inventory of stolen treasure?
  27. Soundtube by aethera · · Score: 2, Informative

    I've worked with some SoundTube products before. They were excellent. We used thew in several hanging locations and on the ground in theme parks, so they received a 70 volt distributed PA signal. They played a mix of classical and pop music all day. Sound quality was not excellent, but certainly very good. They were very power efficient and very durable. Bats, Birds, Bees, rain, manure, even lawnmovers attacked these things on a daily basis and they still worked great. One of the nicest outdoor PA speakers I ever worked with.

  28. To the contrary by Bud+Dwyer · · Score: 3, Troll
    And I somehow doubt that this technology will ever be used in high fidelity home systems.

    I fancy myself something of an audiophile, and I can say with all certainty that the inflatable loudspeaker is the most exciting new development in the home audio world of the last 5 years.


    Last month's issue of Home Audiophile Review carried an interesting article on the possiblities of the new, inflatable enclosures. Essentially, we will be able to get distortion down to unheard of low levels. The possiblities presented by speaker enclosures in novel shapes is also interesting. Imagine a spherical, or for that matter, tetrahedral, enclosure. You can't do that with wood. Another plus: the enclosures could be filled with nitrogen so as to minimize corrosion of the internal speaker components, thus lengthening product-life and improving sound quality.

    1. Re:To the contrary by kwhilden · · Score: 2, Interesting

      As a very dedicated audiophile, I can't imagine that inflatable speakers could sound good at all. Can you say uncontrolled cabinet resonance? The biggest problem with wooden box speakers is the resonance from the wood creating unwanted coloration in the sound. I don't think it is possible to brace an inflatable speaker enough to reduce resonance to any significant degree.

      As far as building tetrahedral speakers out of wood, check out these from Acoustic Reality. I happen to own a pair, and resonance control is outstanding. They also sound great and are very cheap by audiophile standards.

      btw, I am audiophile lunatic... ugh.
      KW

      --
      Kevin Whilden www.solarhifi.com
    2. Re:To the contrary by Chris+Johnson · · Score: 2
      Um...

      The only reason you'd want a spherical enclosure is because the _outside_ of a sphere produces the evenest response. Unfortunately the inside is the single worse shape for an enclosure you could have.

      Plus, in general terms, wall rigidity is enormously important for a speaker enclosure. Now, there's two sides to this: on the one hand you want vibrations to be damped down effectively, and in this the inflatable might even wind up with some advantages. Unfortunately the other side is that walls are rigid for a reason.

      You could do a dipole this way by using the inflatable for the back wave, but there's barely any difference between that and NO enclosure at all. These equate to just the driver sitting there. The worst aspect, bar none, is bass and dynamic impact. Treble, diffraction and cabinet coloration might be improved somewhat over cheap plywood- but at what cost?

      Sorry- you've been spun. These aren't the speakers you've been looking for. Move along..

    3. Re:To the contrary by ahem · · Score: 1


      <notes hook in bait>
      <hears trolling motor on boat floating above>
      <ignores bait>

      Good one.

      --
      Not A Sig
    4. Re:To the contrary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Another plus: the enclosures could be filled with nitrogen so as to minimize corrosion of the internal speaker components, thus lengthening product-life and improving sound quality."

      The inflated part forms the WALLS. There would be no pressure against the back of the cone. (Nice trolling!)

    5. Re:To the contrary by shinji1911 · · Score: 1

      You fancy yourself an audiophile, but have never seen 4 wood/mdf slabs together in the shape of a tetrahedron?

      AV-Reality

    6. Re:To the contrary by Mononoke · · Score: 1
      I fancy myself something of an audiophile, and I can say with all certainty that the inflatable loudspeaker is the most exciting new development in the home audio world of the last 5 years.
      Wow, you are an audiophile, aren't you.

      This is not a compliment, BTW.

      --
      NetInfo connection failed for server 127.0.0.1/local
    7. Re:To the contrary by frantzdb · · Score: 2

      You mean this Home Audiophile Review"?

      Yea. Right.

      --Ben

    8. Re:To the contrary by radja · · Score: 2

      >Another plus: the enclosures could be filled with nitrogen so as to minimize corrosion of the internal speaker components... [snip]

      hmm.. fill with Helium, and let float on a string? should give good acoustic decoupling. On the other hand.. Bach on Helium *shiver*

      //rdj

      --

      No one can understand the truth until he drinks of coffee's frothy goodness.
      --Sheikh Abd-Al-Kadir, 1587
    9. Re:To the contrary by ErikZ · · Score: 1

      If inflexability is so important, why don't they make the boxes out of steel or cast iron?

      --
      Democrats or Republicans. They are both taking us to the same place and they are not afraid of us anymore.
  29. Home use - pool stereo by WillSeattle · · Score: 1

    Hmm. Seems to me, this solves the problem of how to get those heavy speakers set up for bands.

    But another intriguing use would be for California and Florida - pool stereo systems. Just get a good protected cable and a splash guard with drain, and float the system in the pool.

    Man, that would make one cool video!

    --
    --- Will in Seattle - What are you doing to fight the War?
  30. Im filling mine with helium... by happyhippy · · Score: 0

    ...so they float about the room.

  31. This Brings New Meaning... by dbCooper0 · · Score: 2, Informative
    to: Damn - I just Blew a Speaker!

    Seriously, I (as a musician with a little experience building cabinets for 18" and smaller drivers), seem to remember that the heavier, the better - at least for Bass Enclosures.

    I doubt there is a valid market.

    The day has passed since JBL rocked with alnico magnets - you could walk into a music store with a notepad and tape measure, then go back you your garage and cut up some 3/4" or 5/8" particle board, and save big bucks. No patent infringement - I didn't sell 'em - no, really! ;-)

    --
    db
    Cig:
    ôô
    /`
  32. track meets by AnimeFreak · · Score: 1

    This would be a benefit to my brother's track club as instead of having to assemble and store clunky hard shell speakers, we can inflate these speakers and I doubt they'd take very much space.

    It would be a benefit to me too as I am usually the one who has to set up such things.

  33. oh the ideas! by mrsmalkav · · Score: 1

    Now all we need are inflatable music-making-devices and we can have a party in a bag!

    How about creating a new form of boat parties where you ship out and set up the speakers floating in the water and you can swim around the sound for a totally Debussy-esque experience.

    How about one of those bouncy inflatable houses that you see at fairs? We could have the COMPLETELY inflated house! (No golf shoes please)

  34. YAIP (Yet Another Inflatible Pun) by The+Iconoclast · · Score: 5, Funny

    Pump up the Jam! Pump it Up! Pump it UP!!

    --
    Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati
  35. Terminology is wrong by dwlemon · · Score: 5, Funny

    "..rock groups need roadies to hump.."

    No. Those are groupies.

  36. We could keep sharks away from the shore... by happyhippy · · Score: 0

    ...by putting the speakers on the water and blasting shit pop at them.

  37. here's the patent info... by chthonicphage · · Score: 3, Informative

    Patent Number: WO0154541 (UK)
    Publication date: 2001-08-02
    Inventor(s): WIENER DAVID
    Applicant(s):: SOUNDTUBE ENTERTAINMENT INC (US)

    A speaker assembly (100) is provided including a rigid front speaker mounting element (102) defining at least one speaker mounting opening (103), at least one speaker driver (104) coupled to the at least one speaker mounting opening (103) of the speaker mounting element (102), at least one flexible bladder (106) at least partially forming the sides and rear of the enclosure and coupled to the speaker mounting element (102), and a valve (108) coupled to the flexible bladder (106). The flexible bladder (108) has a first wall portion (110) and a second wall portion (112) defining a substantally air-tight interior space (114) therebetween and may take any desired shape when inflated. Together, the speaker mounting element (102) and the bladder (106) form at least one interior chamber (116) at least partially surrounding the speaker driver (104). The valve (108), which provides a substantially air-tight seal when closed, is in fluid communication with the interior space of the flexible bladder (106) and can be used for inflation and deflation of the bladder (106). The bladder (106) is inflatable by providing either pressurized gas or expandable foam within the interior space. Alternatively, the bladder may be formed as a plurality of independently inflatable cells, or may be evacuatably-formed from a material having shape retaining memory properties. After use, the bladder (106) enclosure may be removed from the speaker mounting elemet (102), and deflated for reuse, or disposed of.

    1. Re:here's the patent info... by cr0sh · · Score: 2

      Explanation for those who don't speak patent-ese:

      Take a piece of plywood. Cut a hole, mount a speaker on the front. Now, build a plastic/rubber bladder/balloon to attach to the sides, so that your now have a "box shape" - optionally with side "arms" to hold the edges forming the sides ridged. Add a valve and pump it up.

      In other words, the bladder forms the structure to hold the speaker up, and the plywood panel serves to have a place to mount the speaker.

      Bet I know what it sounds like, too - CRAP! This is basically a "boxless" or "baffless" design - where the panel is just a speaker mounting point, not much else (keeps a little sound from radiating forward). Grab a speaker design book from the 50s, early 60s, and you will see this design. Even then it sucked, just not as bad because speakers in general weren't that great.

      These "blow-up" speakers might be OK if the bladder is of a sufficiently thick material, and it is kept at a high pressure level, but they won't be "great"...

      --
      Reason is the Path to God - Anon
  38. If it worked, I bet smaller bands could use this. by Mustang+Matt · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Think of all the bands that can't afford to fly their equipment around. Now they could.

    I bet there is some really interesting things that could be done with this technology.

    For instance, could you change the response of the speakers by adding more air pressure inside of the enclosure? Seems like you could easily tune for each song if you wanted to.

    --
    The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either. - Benjamin Franklin
  39. MODERATORS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    This is Slashdot. As such, this post should have been moderated "interesting" or "informative".

  40. Re:If it worked, I bet smaller bands could use thi by happyhippy · · Score: 0

    So youll see big hairy roadies blowing into them between songs!

  41. Almost Certainly Bullshit by crucini · · Score: 5, Informative

    The audio world is crawling with hopeful inventors who don't understand much about sound and electro-accoustics. I've had the privilege of seeing many of these "inventions" first hand. The article failed to address the key issue behind "inflatable speakers": rigidity. In a vented box, which is the most common type of low-frequency and very-low-frequency system, the walls need to be pretty rigid to prevent distortion and energy loss. If these inventors have some way to make a balloon as rigid as 3/4" birch plywood with closely spaced transverse braces, the article doesn't mention it.

    The only kinds of speaker enclosure that aren't concerned with rigidity are those that simply enclose rigid horns made of fibreglas, plastic or wood. In these situations, the enclosure merely protects the components from dust, water and damage and does not serve an accoustic funciton. JBL among others has realized this and is making a series of touring speakers which are simply frames of metal tubing with no side walls. Again, inflatable walls would add nothing to such a system.

    As for the "beach ball" idea, this can be interpreted in two different ways, due to the lack of detail in the article. If you make a conventional (sealed or vented box) speaker system with spherical form, it will have a sharp resonant peak related to the diameter of the sphere. This peak can be reduced by increasing the absorbent material inside the enclosure, but still reflects a design mistake. A sphere is the worst possible shape for a conventional speaker enclosure. A second application of a sphere is to place it in front of a speaker (possibly a tweeter) creating in effect a radial horn. By careful positioning, two or even three transducers could share one sphere. An inflated beach ball could work for high and even mid frequencies. As the frequency gets lower, however, the need for rigidity of the sphere increases. In general, the sphere should be hard and rigid.

    Such a system will never work as well as separate, properly designed horns for the separate transducers. Its only benefit is visual gimmickry and possible cost savings.

    1. Re:Almost Certainly Bullshit by Reality+Master+101 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      If these inventors have some way to make a balloon as rigid as 3/4" birch plywood with closely spaced transverse braces, the article doesn't mention it.

      I think most of us probably have an image of some cheap inflatable pool float, but we don't really know what materials this is made out of or what pressure it is inflated to. Put it this way, what if the enclosure were made of tire rubber and inflated to 250 pounds pressure, with cross braces etc? It would probably be pretty rigid.

      Now, I doubt that scenerio that I just laid out would give you any weight or cost savings, but it's an idea of how this might go if that used more interesting materials. :)

      --
      Sometimes it's best to just let stupid people be stupid.
    2. Re:Almost Certainly Bullshit by shinji1911 · · Score: 1

      Your explanation is perfect for the unwashed. :)

      For completeness, I should point out that there are other approaches other than bracing and thick walls, such as JM-Reynaud's transmission lines together with his medite materials, or dipole electrostats such as the irreproachable Quad ESLs, which require absolutely no rigid walls whatsoever.

    3. Re:Almost Certainly Bullshit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >what if the enclosure were made of tire rubber and inflated to 250 pounds pressure

      Bwing! There's your resonant frequency for rubber. :-)

      Next time you're bored whack a large inflated tire with a hammer (don't bust the tire!). Notice they have a horrible set of resonant frequencies...

      Maybe something else though... Plyable plywood? ;-)

    4. Re:Almost Certainly Bullshit by SubtleNuance · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      i took a look at the Newsweek article in your .sig:

      Its fucking ethnocentric garbage, language and themes right out of plutocratic propaganda - hardly "excellent" reading, more like "semi-literate nationalist jingoism".

      Give yourself a break... the Arabs hate america because its 'free'.. yeah thats it.. they hate your 'democracy'. Sheesh.

    5. Re:Almost Certainly Bullshit by canadian_right · · Score: 1
      You must have accidently ended up at Adequancy.org as the linked articles were a fairly balanced look at some of the underlying reasons for the rage many Muslims feel towards western society.

      You comment isn't coherent enough to give a more specific critque. Are you complaining that the Muslims or the Americans are engaging in 'nationalist jingoism'?

      If you actually read the articles you would see that it does not argue that the West is hated because it is 'free'. A number of different issues, policies, and cultural differences have all worked together to get to where the worlds is today.

      --
      Anarchists never rule
    6. Re:Almost Certainly Bullshit by squaretorus · · Score: 2

      Patent and secrecy issues prevent these details coming out, so you might be right that this is BS, but...

      Some pretty incredible advances have been made in flat panel speakers AND in producing rigid inflatable structures (space, life saving equipment, temporary structural supports in the construction industry) which, if brought together COULD give the kind of rigidity needed to make some QUITE loud low frequency speakers.

      New materials offering incredible strength can be inflated to high pressures with minimal distortion, and be heat sealed into pretty complex shapes - so the kind of bracing needed wouldn't be a problem. Most of these, however, are manufactured using complex multi stage processes basing on a woven substructure with plastic coatings. Great - but expensive.

      I agree, however, that the article in the New Scientist certainly fals below their usual high standards by skipping over ALL of the obvious questions with the lame old 'they wont say'. If they won't say how it works, how do we know this isn't just BS?

    7. Re:Almost Certainly Bullshit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      "The Reality Master is dedicated to viewing the world objectively; without emotionalism, wishful thinking, cynicism or silly prejudices. The pursuit of simple Truth.
      This has won him few friends on Slashdot. :)"


      It seems to me Reality Master is dedicated to spouting out popular misconceptions. He also seems to have trouble questioning the politicial establishment and often accepts their views as the truth.


      The Westernized Nations do not allow other nations autonomy when it conflicts with their agenda. If the people of Chile democratically vote for Socialism the United Staes will be happy to overthrow it. They will also be happy to install a dictatorial regime and "hail the triumph of Chilean democracy." The media will be happy to join the chorus of the government: "hail the triumph of Chilean democracy, the socialists have been overthrown." Americans such as Reality Master will be happy to accept the claims of the government and media at face value.


      The American media will be more than happy to ignore the killing of over 25,000 in Indonesia's occupation of East Timor. The American media will be happy to ignore all the genocides committed by the Turkish government. The American media will be more than happy to call the Kurdish rebels in Iraq freedom fighters. When similiar Kurdish rebels appear in Turkey, the ally of America, the media is happy to condemn these "terrorists". When the Americans and their allies were fighting in Iraq they were happy to encourage the Kurdish rebels to uprise. When the war was over and they Americans feared that a Kurdish rebel uprising would spread into nearby Turkey, her ally, they were happy to stand quiet and let the uprising they encouraged be crushed. They can not let their totalitarian allies in Turkey have more internal turmoil.


      The American government is controlled to a large extent by big business. These big business enjoy a status where they can influence lawmakers and politicians. The major media goes straight to the government as the sources for most of their material concerning foreign policy issues. They may do some real reporting and tell some truths that is contrary to government interets but they will not offer a accurate view of what is going on most the time. You will not hear in the major media much advocating of the United States ceasing to interfere in the affairs of other nations. What you will hear is people purporting that to interfere in the affairs of other nations is our divine right, and that we are enlightened society and such. Do not believe all the shit the media says. The have intellectually copped out to the government a long time ago. If they did not cop out the United States would still need a department of propaganda to issue war posters and such like they did in the Great War.

    8. Re:Almost Certainly Bullshit by eXENCE · · Score: 1
      "spherical form, it will have a sharp resonant peak related to the diameter of the sphere"


      Every singel enclosure have a resonance frequency! So the resonant peak is represented even if you build a enclosure shaped like Linus Torvald. Unless you build it VERY big then the peak will be outside och the frequency range you can hear.
    9. Re:Almost Certainly Bullshit by joss · · Score: 2

      I did read the articles, and while they are not as simplistic or jingoistic as TV news, they are extraordinarily selective in what they leave out. Imagine if someone tried to explain why America was bombing Afghanistan without mentioning what happened on Sept 11. They could write something that seemed balanced and thoughtful, but would leave you screaming "hang on a moment.."

      When Madelene Albright responded to a question on the deaths of 500,000 Iraqi children with "we think the price was worth it" this caused a fair bit of anger. You may reply that these deaths are Saddam Hussein's fault, maybe they are, but that is not how it is perceived in the middle east. Saddam Hussein is widely hated too. The fact that the US supported Saddam with arms and funds while he was doing our bidding doesn't help much. He wasn't a nice person then either. Neither was Osama bin Laden when the CIA was funding him.

      Indonesia is mentioned in the articles as an example of a progressive praiseworthy Islamic regmine that the US is friendly with. The fact that they slaughtered a large chunk of the population of East Timor seems relevent here.

      Syria is discussed as an example of a terribly repressive Islamic regime. Fair enough, but here is an interesting fact: they imprison a smaller percentage of their population than the US. If America is such a paradigm of freedom, why does it have the largest prison population in the world.

      If you really want to understand why America is hated, you won't find it by reading newsweek. You will find it by reading things like http://www.zmag.org http://english.pravda.ru/main/2001/10/11/17799.htm l or pakistani news sources

      The accusations against the US might be a completely unjustified pack of lies, but you should at least know what the accusations are. You cannot possibly refute them if they are not even mentioned.

      --
      http://rareformnewmedia.com/
    10. Re:Almost Certainly Bullshit by Reality+Master+101 · · Score: 1

      I can pretty much discredit your entire post by focusing on this one sentence:

      The American media will be more than happy to call the Kurdish rebels in Iraq freedom fighters.

      It's very clear you did not live in the US during the Gulf War. The major news media was VERY biased against the gulf war. I still remember all the rhetoric: "the military has order 10,000 body bags", "The soldiers of Iraq are battle-hardened veterans, we are heading into another vietnam", on and on.

      If you think that the American national media is biased toward "America is always right", you have ABSOLUTELY no clue about the culture within the national media.

      The national media is normally unbelievably biased and cynical of the military. In this particular case, however, it was an attack directly ON THEM. They finally see that there really are bad guys in the world, there really are fanatics who want to kill them -- personally. They all know that they could have been up in the world trade center that day, just like anyone here in the country, and in fact, just like anyone in the world (who lives in a country where they are free to travel, that is).

      That's why so many people are behind this war. No one is safe when you have religious fanatics who will kill any number of people in order remake the world into radical Islam.

      Maybe you should consider that it's YOU who don't get it, rather than 90% of the rest of the world. A war will be fought. We can either fight it now when our enemies are weak, or we can fight WW/III in the future when bin Laden takes over the middle east.

      --
      Sometimes it's best to just let stupid people be stupid.
    11. Re:Almost Certainly Bullshit by Reality+Master+101 · · Score: 1

      Neither was Osama bin Laden when the CIA was funding him.

      I see this kind of stuff a lot, and I think it's very short-sighted. We can't look in our crystal ball and see "terrorist mastermind" in his future. Second, there is a reason we funded them: to stop Soviet expansionism. They might not have been "nice people" back then, but the Soviets was one of the most opprossive regimes in the history of the world.

      If America is such a paradigm of freedom, why does it have the largest prison population in the world.

      Because we are not oppressive, and grant our citizens more freedom. Think about this way: how much crime do you think there is when the punishment for stealing is cutting off a hand? Not to mention the public executions (which helps keep the prison population down).

      The accusations against the US might be a completely unjustified pack of lies, but you should at least know what the accusations are. You cannot possibly refute them if they are not even mentioned.

      I don't see how its helpful to list all the lies that circulate through the Islamic countries. That's just a symptom of the fact that they hate us, and I'm more interested in the underlying reasons than to just deal with some random ignorant rumor. For example, how do you refute the "4000 Jews were absent for the WTC because they got a 'phone call'?". It's absurd and illogical.

      I try and refute guys like SubtleNuance, but their hatred of the US is so deep that there is no way to logically refute anything. You have to fix the underlying problems before logic can take effect.

      --
      Sometimes it's best to just let stupid people be stupid.
    12. Re:Almost Certainly Bullshit by joss · · Score: 2

      > Because we are not oppressive, and grant our citizens more freedom.

      Well, that's one theory. Since America has the 2nd highest level of incarceration in the world, just behind Russia, I guess that means that you are less oppressive than everywhere except Russia. Possibly there is more to it than that, and you are considering your country through rose tinted spectacles. In fact, once you have thought about it for a while, and examined which countries have the highest levels of imprisonment, you might realise that having vast numbers of people in prison is not a good sign. Try to consider the possibility that your interpretation of facts tends to favor explanations which reflect well upon America.

      > I don't see how its helpful to list all the lies that circulate through the Islamic countries. That's just a symptom of the fact that they hate us.

      The stuff that the Islamic world believes about the USA is more the cause of the hatred than a symptom of it. It's worth looking at the accusations - if they are simply false, then surely there are measures the US can take to correct the misinformation. That rumour about 4000 Israelis (the rumour spoke of Israelis rather than jews) is easily refuteable bullshit of course. Some of the other accusations (such as USA's pro-Israel bias) are not so easy to dismiss. It's worth looking at what your opponents say - if it's nothing but a pack of lies, great.

      --
      http://rareformnewmedia.com/
    13. Re:Almost Certainly Bullshit by Reality+Master+101 · · Score: 1

      Try to consider the possibility that your interpretation of facts tends to favor explanations which reflect well upon America.

      I don't have any illusions that the US is perfect. The problems of the prisons is primarily cultural -- too many poor people choose crime rather than embrace the opportunities that are open to them. I don't see this as a problem of the US government, but a problem of the culture. Take black culture -- the "black leaders" exploit their own people by telling them that "the man" will never let them get ahead. Their only chance is to give power to these so-called "leaders". Meanwhile, they don't bother to become educated because they think it won't do any good, and they think it's "selling out".

      I will blame the US government in one way: welfare has totally destroyed the work ethic of the poor. The "great experiment" has done more damage to the culture than anything our enemies could have done.

      --
      Sometimes it's best to just let stupid people be stupid.
    14. Re:Almost Certainly Bullshit by joss · · Score: 2

      > I don't see this as a problem of the US government, but a problem of the culture

      It's certainly a problem *for* the US government. For what it's worth, I agree that the problem is cultural. I also agree that welfare, in its current form at least, exacerbates the problem. Most of the worst problems can be tracked to the fact that we have a debt-based economy (money is invented by banks), but I can't be bothered to go into that just now. Black culture in the US is completely fucked up, identifying the culprits for this is less important than trying to make it less fucked up. Throwing a large chunk of them into prison on drug offences doesn't help any.

      --
      http://rareformnewmedia.com/
    15. Re:Almost Certainly Bullshit by crucini · · Score: 2
      Every singel enclosure have a resonance frequency!

      Most enclosures have more than one resonant frequency. A typical rectangular box will have three major resonances related to the dimensions. That's why speakers don't have dimensions that are integer multiples of each other. A spherical shape puts all the resonance eggs in one basket. An enclosure shaped like Linus Torvalds would not have a sharp resonant peak.
      Unless you build it VERY big then the peak will be outside och the frequency range you can hear.

      The speed of sound is roughly 1100 ft/sec. An enclosure with parallel walls one foot apart will resonate at 1100 hz, which is certainly audible. Could you possibly have been thinking of radio waves?
  42. Indoor/Outdoor by uigrad_2000 · · Score: 2, Funny

    In my church, they would be easy to hang from the top of the ceiling. (I can't imagine what it's like lifting a 30lb speaker all the way up there!)

    For outdoor concerts, they could be filled with helium, and allowed to float. Wouldn't it be awesome to see the speakers fluttering in the wind!

    And, in my living room, I might get 5 small ones to hang from my ceiling fan.

    I can't wait!

    --
    Free unix account: freeshell.org
    1. Re:Indoor/Outdoor by klmth · · Score: 1
      And, in my living room, I might get 5 small ones to hang from my ceiling fan.

      Wouldn't the fact that the speaker cabinets rotate generate a leslie (rotary speaker) effect? An excellent effect if you're playing a hammond, but not exactly something I'd recommend for playback.

  43. The Next Development.... by emmetropia · · Score: 1

    Inflatable amps and mixers! Maybe even rack-mount inflatable effects, and instruments too. It would bring on a new wave of "air guitar" players.

  44. A practical application... by paulychamp · · Score: 1

    Finally! What I want is one those Washington Redskins Blow-up chairs that come with their own inflatable pump with BUILT IN sound!

    Now watching games with dad is twice the fun!

    Booyah.
    -Paul

  45. Unclear on the concept. by blair1q · · Score: 4, Funny

    If you could make speakers and enclosures out of lightweight materials, it would have been done long before now.

    They're made out of 3/4th-inch plywood to take the stress of constant packing and unpacking.

    I predict the first tour that tries to use these things will end up with what looks like the first all-duct-tape speaker enclosures by the end of the trip.

    --Blair

    1. Re:Unclear on the concept. by Mononoke · · Score: 1
      They're made out of 3/4th-inch plywood to take the stress of constant packing and unpacking.
      Close, but not quite. 3/4" ply is the thinnest plywood that won't easily resonate. Any vibration or flexing of a cabinet's sides detracts from the acoustic efficiency of the cabinet.

      Some companies also use carbon fiber, and some have tried plastics and honeycomb-core materials, to varied success.

      --
      NetInfo connection failed for server 127.0.0.1/local
  46. Inflatable furniture. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Mmm ... just the thing to listen to while sitting on my inflatable couch.

  47. Dammit... there they go again... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    those kids in their souped up hot-air balloon, flying all around the block, with their rap music blaring... You can hear the bass for miles...

    There used to be a time when the sound those kids could make was limited to volume/carrying capacity of a honda civic.

  48. It won't catch on by Albanach · · Score: 1

    They'll never be as comfortable as a lilo

  49. What's my name, bitch?! by Pope · · Score: 2, Funny
    Flute, anyone?

    Damn that Alyson Hannigan is sexy...

    --
    It doesn't mean much now, it's built for the future.
    1. Re:What's my name, bitch?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So this one time, at math camp, I took my slide rule...

  50. No High-Fidelity Home Systems? by Skyfire · · Score: 1

    It looks like from the article that these speakers are designed to be used for touring concerts. If these are high enough quality for that, I should hope they would be high enough quality for a home system.

    --
    Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
    1. Re:No High-Fidelity Home Systems? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When was the last time you went to a concert? My experience has been that they are incredibly loud, but don't sound too good. I have not been to one concert where I could say that the speakers sounded good, but I could always say that they shook the floor more than I would have thought possible. Just my .01

    2. Re:No High-Fidelity Home Systems? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Speakers designed for concerts are *not* in any way high fidelity, they are loud and rugged. They can rattle your walls, but they sound like crap compared to any decent home system.

  51. Cool Ravers will love this! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    THis will make throwing those underground raves of mine even easier!!!

  52. Bull Shit by HEbGb · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I don't believe it for a minute.

    Distortion down to 'unheard of low levels'? Hype city. There is absolutely no plausible mechanism to support this claim. As for transdcuer shapes, such as tetrahedral, it's almost completely irrelevant as far as sound quality goes.

    Loudspeakers don't have a limited lifetime because of corrosion. It's usually fatigue of the constituent materials, of which an inflatable plastic would certainly be about the worst.

    These might be a good gimmick, but nothing more. I think their egos need a bit of deflating.

    They're apparently using NXT flat panel techniques. No wonder this is so full of mindless hype.

    1. Re:Bull Shit by driftingwalrus · · Score: 1

      He's an audiophile, what do you expect? Anyone who knows anything about sound never calls themselves audiophiles:)

      --
      Paul Anderson
      "I drank WHAT?!" -- Socrates
  53. Maybe I Am Being Negative But... by PhreakinPenguin · · Score: 1

    Where exactly are the inflatable speaker wires going to plug into?

    --


    My sig of choice is Marlboro
  54. Hype city by HEbGb · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I think it's time to deflate the hype surrounding these things a bit.

    They basically use an inflatable structure (not unlike a beachball) as a loudspeaker enclosure, and attach a flat-panel loudspeaker to the front. Voila.

    Performance of these will be questionable, at best, and they will certainly not have the performance they're claiming. Utter nonsense. They've provided absolutely nothing to support their claims.

    Loudspeaker enclosured are designed to be rigid for a reason - they're essentially used as baffles and resonant structures, that, when properly designed, will provide a reliable, efficient, output of sound. An inflatable loudspeaker will not have any rigidity, thereby eliminating its use as a baffle, and severely diminishing low frequency performance. Second, the fact that the air will be expected to leak over time will change the resonant structure significantly, eliminating any possibility of consistent performance, if it even could be attained in the first place.

    Now, an inflatable loudspeaker might be a nice gimmick, but it will absolutely not be a performance product. Not even close.

    This is all hype, folks, nothing to see here - move along.

    Oh, they're apparently VC funded? Go figure with the outlandish claims!

    1. Re:Hype city by PhreakinPenguin · · Score: 1

      So if I undertsnad right...you are claiming shananigans. I do believe this is a valid case of shananigans.

      --


      My sig of choice is Marlboro
  55. add this.. by sewagemaster · · Score: 1

    looks like my blow up doll can now react to what i give it!

  56. Hrm.. by RyuuzakiTetsuya · · Score: 1

    this'll be great for lan parties, some camping bitch annoys you, just pop his speakers.

    --
    Non impediti ratione cogitationus.
  57. watch out! by freaker_TuC · · Score: 1

    hear a needle falling ...

    another dimension to blowing-the-speakers-out!

    *boom*

    --
    --- I am known for the ones who want to find me on the net. Is that a privacy risk or a privilege? One might wonder..
  58. Dodecahedral speakers by os2fan · · Score: 2
    I recall reading in some book about "Design for the real world" about putting cheap speakers into the faces of a dodecahedron produces good sound. Nothing came of that, and I doubt if anything will come of this.

    I think it has more to do with buyer perception than gee-whiz technology, although it could have some application for bands on the road or PA events.

    --
    OS/2 - because choice is a terrible thing to waste.
  59. overnight workstations by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sorry, I'm sure this will get me bad karma, but I need a quick response...

    Anybody got a URL for a hardware vendor that will sell me a Linux workstation and ship overnight?

    One of the boxes here just went tits-up. I don't have time for a whitebox solution, we need this tomorrow.

    1. Re:overnight workstations by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      didn't know I was posting AC...log in wasn't working

  60. Well... by 11thangel · · Score: 2

    Just because they are LOUDspeakers doesn't mean they have to be QUALITY speakers. They just have to be LOUD.

    --

    I am !amused.
  61. Ellula Sounds by azool · · Score: 1
    --
    Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball.
  62. "Inflatable loudspeakers could blow out roadies" by aclarke · · Score: 1

    I thought the point of loudspeakers was to blow out MUSIC...or did this mean that "inflatable loudspeakers could blow out [of] roadies" (yuck!)? I guess the latter would solve the question of how to inflate the speakers.

    Their multiple-bladder design reminds me of the Titanic - see how well THAT concept held water/air/whatever...

  63. But, but... by Fear+the+Clam · · Score: 3, Funny

    What will raveGrrrls stand on top of to dance? What will dweebBoyz jump from to crowd surf? My whole '90s world -- gone!

    At least I'll always have my tribal tattoo.

  64. What if they were inflated with water? by torklugnutz · · Score: 2, Interesting

    In a multi bladder system, this seems like it would give good absorption of energy, and add structure and weight to the system, which would be useful in an outdoor/windy/explosion prone environment. The article doesn't mention that as part of their plan, but I wonder if it would be of any sonic benefit.

    --
    Often in Error, Never in Doubt.
    1. Re:What if they were inflated with water? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      According to the website, Dizzie Gillespie is only 30.

  65. Man I want this by mini+me · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This would complement car audio nicely! No need to fill up your entire trunk with a sub box, just inflate when you need it and it will pack away nicely when you don't.

  66. Moderators! by brulman · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I feel this qualifies as a troll.

    --
    "the best safety of the frontier...will be secured by total annihilation of the few remaining indians" L Frank Baum 1890
  67. similar to inflatable guitars! by guidobot · · Score: 5, Informative
    There's actually already an inflatable acoustic guitar on the market, I've played it and it works very well. My ex-girlfriend was going to work for the guy making them, but the company is quite poor and couldn't afford to pay her. He was a real nice guy though, and had been trying to make one since 1979. Its based on the physics of an insect wing... there's quite a lot of information about it on the site mentioned above.

    Anyways, don't discount the inflatable speakers as things that wouldn't work... these guitars worked really well. I saw them first in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts...

  68. The real question is by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

    If I attach one to my bladder, what will happen?

    Seriously though, the real question is, how ungodly much are they going to charge for these? Anyone who can glue rubber together should be able to build them, once someone spends some brainpower and computer time on making them out of readily available materials. (You'll have to do some serious modeling to figure out how the inflatable portion will react with the sound.) But it would be preferable if you could get them cheaply, already made.

    Right now, for raves in inconvenient locations, the effort is compounded by the need to truck out large, heavy speakers and find a stable place to put them which is out of the mud, or sand, or what have you. Large band venues which require large speakers also are designed to facilitate such things, with loading docks and so on, so while this could be cool there too, it's not as exciting.

    The ellula sounds product line is pretty paltry and not at all exciting. You can pick up altec lansing sets with a nice subwoofer and a couple satellites for $50. Who cares about using this technology for small speakers? They're already lightweight and cheap. I want to see some BIG mofos.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  69. One thing its good for... by Kramer747 · · Score: 0

    I'm thinking major cool pool party!

    Myabe if their wireless you could play water polo with the speakers.

    :-)


    "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." --Albert Einstein

  70. Uh oh.. by leinerj · · Score: 1

    I wonder how blow up dolls are gonna benefit from this?

  71. OB Sluggy Freelance reference by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Doctor Schlock would be so proud...

    http://www.sluggy.com/

  72. Inflatable fetishes by Cybercifrado · · Score: 1

    What is the deal with all these inflatable items hitting the stores nowadays? I can understand sofas and chairs, where flexibility is better and more apt to be comfortable. But the entire concept of speakers and acoustics relies upon static materials to create smooth, clear vibrations. About the only other reason I can see to make inflatable speakers would be to fill that space with a "lighter-than-air" gas to either lighten or float the load. Besides that, the only other pro is the ability to store in a smaller space...

  73. My cat will just love it... by QwkHyenA · · Score: 1
    Dang Cat!

    I told you to use the scratching post!

    That's the third set of speakers this week!

    --
    LFS. Have you built your system today?
  74. Ellula Sounds Ltd. by frantzdb · · Score: 3, Informative

    The article mentions Ellula Sounds Ltd. (not to be confused with EULA). A quick google search gives an article with a picture. See also Ellula's corporate page.

    --Ben

    1. Re:Ellula Sounds Ltd. by karnal · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      It's so nice to go to a non-flash web si...

      wait...

      I WAS TRICKED!!!

      --
      Karnal
  75. Beach Party!!! by Nathdot · · Score: 1

    These speakers would be awesome for a party on the beach...

    A couple of beers on the inflatable couch set and music cranking out of the inflatable speakers (running of the car battery I suppose).

    They are just made for this sort of a scenario.
    I'm sure people wouldn't mind a slight trade off in sound production given there practicality.

    :)

  76. Sonic Benefit by dbCooper0 · · Score: 1
    Doubtful. The multi-bladder concept using water-filled pockets would aid in deadening the hollow acoustics that an all-air system would promote, but methinks it would have to be constructed as a shell around the actual chamber, to replace the wood/polycarbonate shell that conventional enclosures employ. It might even need to be stiffened to avoid doing something like Dizzie Gillepie's cheeks on each pulsation!

    The sound waves have to "bounce" off something more substantial than air and thin vinyl. They then have to "escape" out to achieve a balance of the back versus the front of the driver. (see folded horn illustration). In a ported (bass reflex) enclosure there is a tuned hole that attains this balance. Then there is the sealed enclosure (not a great example) that relies on the balance to be a factor of amplifier wattage, speaker capability, and enclosure size to gain the most "bang for the buck".

    --
    db
    Cig:
    ôô
    /`
  77. You never know.. by Axe · · Score: 1

    ..You never know what this "audiophiles" will get drooling about.. With right marketing of "warm" (with heated air inside the speakers, no less), "airy" sound you can sell him a spare tire for $10000.. ;)

    --
    <^>_<(ô ô)>_<^>
  78. One guy in Boston. by Axe · · Score: 1
    One guy there makes inflatable guitars. They sound pretty well.

    Actually - having rigid wall on enclosure - is just inviting parasitic vibration - knock on a solid box - it resonates. Good speakers add dumpening material to fight that, and/or other measures. Soft wall may work just fine - or even better..

    Not that I will ever pay for such gizmo. My speakers work rather fine, thank you..

    --
    <^>_<(ô ô)>_<^>
  79. Here is a link: by Axe · · Score: 1

    Inflatable Guitar. I heard it - sound oK.

    --
    <^>_<(ô ô)>_<^>
    1. Re:Here is a link: by klmth · · Score: 1

      Actually, the fact that it's an electric guitar helps a lot. Electric guitars have magnetic pickups that transform the magnetic fluctuation caused by a vibrating steel string above a magnetic pole into an electric signal.

      The reason the sound isn't thin is that the frame and the neck of the guitar resonate in this model - they obviously had one or two luthiers involved.

      Normal electrig guitars are entirely made out of more or less solid wood (there are semi-acoustics, of course) and it is quite possible to hear the difference between two different types of wood.

    2. Re:Here is a link: by Axe · · Score: 1

      This one is a semi acoustic and sounds quite OK. I do know what an electric guitar is (and play traditional Spanish one..)

      --
      <^>_<(ô ô)>_<^>
  80. Here another link. by Axe · · Score: 1

    Rather cool and it works..

    --
    <^>_<(ô ô)>_<^>
  81. Brilliant. by andrei+sama · · Score: 1

    Because I don't find myself taking enough care of my speakers as is. Now I have to make sure I don't pop them, too.

    --

    ---------
    Sometimes there's no other way to win, except by falling.

    1. Re:Brilliant. by neema · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      u r redudant asshole u r so stupid die dumb udmb heafsdfsdfasdfasd

  82. sounds like a big near omni speaker by dbrower · · Score: 1
    Since the actual speaker diaphragm is going to be displacing air, the inflatable membrane behind is also going to vibrate as the air moves. You can probably calculate pretty easily the displacement, based on cone travel -> the amount of air being moved, plugged into the air pressure, and over the area of the bladder. My suspicion is that you get a very low-Q result, with perhaps +3db out the direction of the driver. It sounds like a bad idea to put on stage because of feedback effects, as you'll be bleeding into the proscenium space tremendously. But what do I know, I'm from god damned New Jersey.


    -dB

    --
    "It if was easy to do, we'd find someone cheaper than you to do it."
  83. Who needs this? by A_Non_Moose · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    I thought that is why we have slashdot?

    (heh)

    Moose.

    for the humor impaired, this place is a loudspeaker/soap box/forum etc, etc.

    --
    Have you read the moderator guidelines? Well, have you, PUNK? (and I want a Karma: Gnarly option)
    1. Re:Who needs this? by A_Non_Moose · · Score: 2

      OFFTOPIC? Who the hell is smoking crack?

      GAH...How *freaking ON TOPIC* can a post be?

      Shit, I should just change my name to 3M (Moronic Moderator Magnet) but it is taken.

      Grrrr...man there is one __HUMOR IMPAIRED__ mother f**ker out there....

      Ok, metamoderators...do your job, please. I know I do for moderators like this, who, would not know an on topic post if it bit them in the nads.

      Has anyone thought of a way to aviod this kind of crap? Like if metamoderators judge 4 out of 5 *negative* moderations as unfair, flag the moderator as "clueless" or needs a smack or something?

      "Who Needs a LOUDSPEAKER when we have SLASHDOT"

      I thought it was pretty damn funny...*and* no one else said it? If I had been modded as redundant *and WAS* redundant...cool.

      Moose.

      Slightly paranoid, cause _someone_ IS out to get me. Tis the 2nd time an *ON TOPIC POST* has been modded down.

      Ontopic, interesting, insightful flaimbait, yeah, that's me.

      Maybe I should *drop* my +1 bonus when I type something funny? Heh, it work before... because I get the feeling the humor impaired with mod points browse at +2.

      (SIGH) My own damn fault for thinking moderators *might* have a sense of humor...not so, but at least it helps me maintain my sense of irony.

      Pheh.

      --
      Have you read the moderator guidelines? Well, have you, PUNK? (and I want a Karma: Gnarly option)
  84. Spheres rock for whatever reason. by ahfoo · · Score: 1

    You can argue the math anyway you like, but I have a more or less spherical bass enclosure for home use that rocks hard on a 200watt car amp that cost thirty bucks. People standing right in front of it can't believe all that bass is coming from that funky thing.
    It's made of hand formed fiber-cement with walls about an inch thick and exterior dimensions of about three feet wide and two feet high so it's more of a jelly donut than a perfect sphere. It weighs at least a few hundred pounds and distortion is not a problem at volumes acceptable in my building. Also does awesome home theater effects. High$ audio is a suckers game. Weight and strength is what matters for bass-- use reinforced portland. Build them so heavy they can't be moved and so cheap it doesn't matter if they have to be cut up to get out the door. (Great for dorms, prisons and hospitals I'm sure.)
    The hard part is initially bringing the hundred pound bags of portland cement into the house without provoking all the second guessing know-it-alls into insisting on talking you out of it.

  85. why speakers need a cabinet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    keeping things simple:

    The most fundamental reason speakers need a cabinet is to keep the waves coming from the front and back of the driver separated. Since the front wave and the back wave are obvioiusly 180 degrees out of phase, any frequences with a wavelength larger than the driver size wrap around the driver and cancel each other out. Thus, a driver hanging in space has no bass.

    The next step would be to mount the speaker on a wall that separates to the front and back waves. This wall would have to be big enough to block the longest wavelengths you care about, which would be about 20Hz in the case of acoustics. That would make a pretty big wall.

    To make things practical, you can just fold up the wall and make a box behind the driver, which keeps the front and back waves separate.

    In the case of a sealed box, the box has the added benefit of providing dampening for the speaker, in other words, it adds to the springy-ness of the speaker driver. As it turns out, this extends the bass response of the speaker lower, although it rolls off smoothly as the frequency gets lower.

    However, it makes sense to make more use of the energy of the back wave, which leads to ported boxes, passive radiators, horns, etc. The most common type is ported boxes, which adds a resonant tube into the box. Contrary to popular belief, the port does not "let the sound out of the box." The tube is tuned to a resonant frequency designed to add to the response of the front wave. Since the front wave response drops off at lower freqs, the port's resonance is set at a freq that, when added to the response of the driver, produces a extended low range bass response. (this is easier to explain with bode plots)

    anyhow, back to the inflatable speakers, they would be able to separate the front and back waves, so they should be at least better than a free-air driver. (not saying much). Also, if the back chamber is sealed, it should provide some "springy-ness" to dampen the driver, but the material would need to fairly stiff to control the volume of air inside. I don't think ports or any type of resonant device could be used since the volume of the back chamber would vary quite a bit, and the resonant frequency is dependent on the exact volume of the chamber. I also couldn't see how they could keep it inflated with a port in place. :)

    as for the helium question, I don't think it would change the frequency response of the speaker in the way it does with voices. however, the density ofthe gas in the chamber would change which would change the spring constant of the box-driver combination, making the box effectively smaller than it would be if it were filled with air.

    I'm gonna email a speaker design expert and see if he'll come over and comment on this.

    -Collin

  86. The balloon is not the speaker, look at this: by pacc · · Score: 0

    The slashdot article just talks about using ballons as resonant chambers - the speaker elements are included.

    What about an inflated piezoelectric film ballon emitting a perfect spherical sound wave...
    The Interactive Balloon
    DIY example - make your own

  87. Inflateable speakers by DrSpin · · Score: 0

    It won't work as described.

    However, if you want something small and light that gives great bass at out of door pop concerts, I have the answer. I first made one in the 60's, so the patent is definitely out. You can all know for free: Use the audio to modulate the flow of gas into a large burner. I stuck as small speaker to one of those gas regulator valves.

    When the gas burns it gives an acoustic gain approx equal to the amount the gas expands when burned (about 100 times)

    I used bunsens, but for a big outdoor concert, the thing used in a hot air balloon migh be needed. Wont work with treble because frequency response won't go very high, and there is plenty of distortion. and there is a lot of noise - but at an outdoor concert, people would never notice).

    Don't try this at home, folks!

    Even I did it in a real physics lab. If you want to employ me to develop it commercially, or to use at your next concert in the park, let me know.

  88. a few months ago.. by ohicantbebothered · · Score: 1

    ..I read a story on inflatable speakers in a UK Hi-Fi magazine and of their potential to revolutionise sound reproduction.

    However, it did appear in the April issue so maybe somebody should tell these guys...

  89. thanks giving anyone by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This could bring the Macy's Thanks Giving Day Parade to a new level.

  90. To go with Airheads.... by DougMackensie · · Score: 1

    Think they are gonna make inflatable headphones too?

  91. Inflatable and Dateable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  92. This certainly isn't going to catch on in my house by lumpenprole · · Score: 1

    I can just see it now. "Honey, your stupid cat just popped my stereo again!", "Sorry dear, I'll get the duct tape."

    On the other hand, I wonder if they work better than traditional speakers with beer spilled on them.

    --
    Disclaimer: MINAA (Mummy! I'm Not An Animal!)
  93. Patented by drwho · · Score: 1

    If this is patented, then the patent itself should explain everything.

  94. u r dum by EEgopher · · Score: 1

    I worked in speaker design all summer. The boxes are heavy, but the immense weight of the permanent magnets required for driver operation will remain a problem. So as the music plays for a while, the air inside heats up, and your speakers float away like a balllooon? IEEEEEEEE I AM A DORG! RUFF! MEAOW! SQUAK!!

    --
    hi, I like pancakes -.-- -.-- --..
  95. Prior art by Webmoth · · Score: 2

    "...new technology that allows Inflatable Loud Speakers..."

    I'm sorry, but this technology has been around for many years. It's called a "whoopee cushion." :-P

    --
    Give me my freedom, and I'll take care of my own security, thank you.