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Projecting Sound 'Inside Your Head'

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the voices-will-have-to-make-some-room dept.

Gregus writes "Projecting 'hypersonic sound' has appeared here before, but NY Times Magazine (FRRYYY) has an in-depth article with its lauded inventor and its applications. John Anderton, you could use a Guinness right now." Plus this story includes screwing with Mall Walkers!

10 of 291 comments (clear)

  1. I saw this on CNN a while back by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It seems like many people in the industry thought this guy was a crack-pot, and didn't believe some of his theories. However, he seems to have been able to prove himself and turn many skeptics into believers. This really does have some neat, and disturbing applications.

  2. This is scary.. by phelddagrif · · Score: 5, Interesting

    With this technology, they can directly beam marketing into your head, and it's not like you can ignore it like you can print/t.v/radio ad's by switching the channels, or averting your eyes. Now they have the ability to force you to listen to it, whether you want to or not.

    1. Re:This is scary.. by blakestah · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Ear plugs will block it.

      So will headphones with a hard external shell.

      If someone puts sound someplace in public, there is really no way to avoid it now. The difference is, with HSS, you can have fine spatial control over the exact position of the sound. If anything, there should be a lot more quiet in public, and perhaps more sound in very specific locations.

      I kinda like the idea that you could, in principle, use a hard surface to totally reflect the sound without loss and direct it at someone else.

      A mirror, if you will.

      Or, you could use a waveguide to do it.

  3. This will likely become... by iiioxx · · Score: 4, Interesting

    the most abused technology in history. I have visions of teenage drive-by "screamers" hitting pedestrians with targeted high-decibel music as a prank.

    What about sonic weapons? Is there any reason why a rigged emitter couldn't be built that would emit a signal loud enough to rupture the eardrums of a specific target? Or at the very least, cause excruciating pain?

    I think the inevitable barrage of targeted advertising will be the least of our worries with this new technology.

  4. while the technology is cool by McDrewbie · · Score: 3, Interesting

    While the technology is cool and perhaps one day will be refined for home music consumption, its ability to be used as a non-lethal incapacitating weapon is scary. What could a corrupt government do with these devices. Would public protests against the government eliminated by these devices? (under the normal guise of controlling the crowd and responding to protesters crossing police barriers.)

  5. conversely by rigelstar · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The real winner will be the engineer that develops a practical system to counter-act such a device. A small device such as a watch that can detect the signal and then send a destructive wave to cancel the signal would be good.

  6. Seriously cool by SexyAlexie · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'm deaf myself, and I wonder if this thing could work a lot better than ordinary hearing aids.. would be seriously cool, and be much cheaper.

    --
    I'm too sexy for you.
  7. Got one at Work by mistermund · · Score: 5, Interesting

    We have one of their units at work, and have been using it since the fall. It really does work - you're able to point sound at someone 20 feet away, yet the person standing next to them hears nothing. Also, any sound reflecting surface (concrete walls) that the beam is aimed at effectively becomes the sound surface itself. The only downsides to the unit is that bass is nonexistent - high frequencies only. Also, volume is fairly limited, but it works well enough. I believe we paid about $800 for the device, so it's not that terribly expensive.

    It's really fun to aim it out the window of our building at passing people below. (God speaking to them, etc)

  8. You can license HSS technology here by GuNgA-DiN · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Check this site out:

    http://www.atcsd.com/tl_hss.html

    (Includes data sheet, white paper, FAQ, etc...)

  9. The first time this happens to me by teamhasnoi · · Score: 3, Interesting
    there will be one less HSS in the world, and one less operator.

    I'm sure that this 'sounds' like great tech to advertisers. It's too bad I will be forced to direct it at you at your home, work, and anywhere you go. I won't be gentle.

    I have a right to silence in 'my head' and will defend that right like a crazy motherfucker hearing voices.

    Got it, Madison Ave?