Posted by
Hemos
on from the transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye dept.
James writes "At CeBIT, Olympia has been showing off its Soundbug - a gadget that can turn almost any flat surface into a soundboard. It's only gonna cost £29.99 (around $45, i guess), but it sounds like there's some seriously cool science behind it."
For more information
by
Wind_Walker
·
· Score: 3, Informative
You should see this Slashdot article from nearly a year ago. It describes Korean scientists doing this exact same thing, but as a "proof-of-concept" type of thing.
Apparently, some things that Slashbots debunk as vaporware are made practical:-)
Soundbug is made by Newlands Scientific, a company based in Hull (UK), and comes in a variety of colours, some of which (pink and purple) are pretty disgusting, some of which (grey and blue) aren't...
Their website has plenty more glossy pictures, and a bit more info about "smart materials", which are used to make the wall/glass/whatever vibrate. They seem to be similar to piezo-electric materials, though better (at least, that's what the company would have you believe).
Official Site
by
theCURE
·
· Score: 3, Informative
Check out this link for the official site of the product. Includes pictures.
>>The Soundbug transmits the sound to the flat >>surface by way of a small piece of Terfenol, >>which is a mixture of rare earth metals and >>iron. This substance is placed within an >>aluminium case, around which is wrapped a coil.
If they make a ton of these, what's that going to mean for our supply of Terfenol? I'm not an environmentalist or anything, but I'm sure people won't be happy.
Here is a cool article and picture on Terfenol. Looks like its main purpose is for damping and energy absorption. Kind of looks like gold!
Better version already available
by
IainHere
·
· Score: 5, Informative
DERA the British "defence" research agency developed a much better version years ago (technologically, if not financially), where the panel itself was made to vibrate using electronic impulses. More info here.
Interestingly, they were looking for ways to reduce background noise (using anti-noise) when they stumbled across it.
They've been available commercially for years.
Official Soundbug site
by
deepstephen
·
· Score: 4, Informative
The official Soundbug site is here. You can enter yourself into a prize draw to win one...
--
-- Karma: Chameleon (you come and go)
Cool right up until.....
by
CDWert
·
· Score: 3, Informative
I have found something out over the years, the least likey scenario an engineer can imagine , I and others will do routinley.
There is a pressure of 400lbs aexerted by this gadget, it creates frequncy vibrations in a material that make sound, simple enough.
BUT my desk is partile composite with those idiot lags. No vibrsating the hell out of this 300 piece of junk for a long term is going, very simply to make it fall apart.
I have seen it before, vibration causing the particle composite to litteraly crumble when subjected to long term vibration. Glue seperates, and screws losen.
Slashdot Mirror
Apparently, some things that Slashbots debunk as vaporware are made practical :-)
Their website has plenty more glossy pictures, and a bit more info about "smart materials", which are used to make the wall/glass/whatever vibrate. They seem to be similar to piezo-electric materials, though better (at least, that's what the company would have you believe).
Check out this link for the official site of the product. Includes pictures.
"i can never say no to anyone but you"
>>The Soundbug transmits the sound to the flat
>>surface by way of a small piece of Terfenol,
>>which is a mixture of rare earth metals and
>>iron. This substance is placed within an
>>aluminium case, around which is wrapped a coil.
If they make a ton of these, what's that going to mean for our supply of Terfenol? I'm not an environmentalist or anything, but I'm sure people won't be happy.
Here is a cool article and picture on Terfenol. Looks like its main purpose is for damping and energy absorption. Kind of looks like gold!
DERA the British "defence" research agency developed a much better version years ago (technologically, if not financially), where the panel itself was made to vibrate using electronic impulses. More info here.
Interestingly, they were looking for ways to reduce background noise (using anti-noise) when they stumbled across it. They've been available commercially for years.
The official Soundbug site is here. You can enter yourself into a prize draw to win one...
--
Karma: Chameleon (you come and go)
I have found something out over the years, the least likey scenario an engineer can imagine , I and others will do routinley.
:)
There is a pressure of 400lbs aexerted by this gadget, it creates frequncy vibrations in a material that make sound, simple enough.
BUT my desk is partile composite with those idiot lags. No vibrsating the hell out of this 300 piece of junk for a long term is going, very simply to make it fall apart.
I have seen it before, vibration causing the particle composite to litteraly crumble when subjected to long term vibration. Glue seperates, and screws losen.
Be real neat righ up until your desk collapses
Sig went tro...aahemmm.....fishing........