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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.
you need to blow air into for it to play sounds...
Flute, anyone?
Make even shorter URLs - 8LN.org
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.
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.
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?
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.
I'll to get some to entertain my *inflate* *inflate* girlfriend..
Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. -- Carl Sagan
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
Pump up the Jam! Pump it Up! Pump it UP!!
Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati
"..rock groups need roadies to hump.."
No. Those are groupies.
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!
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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
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.
Damn that Alyson Hannigan is sexy...
It doesn't mean much now, it's built for the future.
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.