LCD Screens Double as Speakers

An anonymous reader writes "The BBC has a story about a company who has developed an LCD screen that can produce sound as well. They claim that the sound quality is quite good, and compare it to average multimedia computer speakers. Also NEC is making and selling computers that use this technology in Japan. Hardware integration like this should make for some interesting appliances in the next few decades."

Comments

light music?

[TomRitchford]

and what will it do to the lifespan of the LED?

Re:light music?

[ceejayoz]

No more than already happens with LCD screens that have speakers built into the sides / bottom of the display.

Re:That's crazy!

[ThePretender]

I'd love to hear a wav file or something of how it sounds...

Well that would most certainly let you know how *your* speakers sound... but would tell you nothing about how their product sounds.

*bzzt* wrong

[matt4077]

I don't like LCDs to have _any_ form of integrated speakers.

I have my surround sound system and don't want to pay for stuff I'll never use.

Re:*bzzt* wrong

[mrtroy]

Just because it does not suit your particular needs, think of all the niches this fills.

I personally have my sweetass stereo hooked up to my computer, however, if I am listening to a CD or the radio I still like computer volume. So...I still have some decent computer speakers.

Now, if my monitor had integrated speakers, that would save some equipment and maybe money.

Then, what about the 3/4 of computer users who have those ghetto computer speakers or none at all? This will be super-duper-fantastic for them.

Good idea, well done, now its a matter of price.

Re:That's crazy!

[Directrix1]

I just don't understand why they paradoxically claim the quality to be quite good like basic multimedia speakers??!? Last I checked basic multimedia speakers sucked a donkeys ass. But oh well, I guess this is targetted at the L-top market. As far as I'm concerned I mute my laptop unless I have headphones plugged in. Because it always sounds like sh!t.

Re:Average...

[Anonymous Coward]

Average multimedia speakers vs. laptop speakers = laptop ones lose every time

laptops

[Snuffub]

This could be great for the laptop market where "average" multimedia speakers would sound alot better than those tin cans.

Superb multimedia quality?

[subreality]

OK, I admit I'm kind of an audio snob. I have full size, full range speakers at my desk, because I like to really listen to music while I work / play / whatever.

But I don't think that *anyone* thinks that "the sound quality is quite good" coming from "average multimedia computer speakers".

I don't mean to knock this technology - if it's like multimedia speakers, it's probably great for people who just want to hear the Happy Sound when their computer boots up, and to watch some video clips from the news online. But, c'mon, Slash, you guys are supposed to be smart enough to filter this BS, and just tell us that it lets people hear their login "zing" without having extra speakers on their desk.

The coolest thing I anticipate from this technology is really cool crack patterns in LCDs from people trying to crank the bass way up (since most compact flat panel speakers have trouble with deep bass).

--Keepiru
--slashsuckATvegaDOTfurDOTcom

flawed business model?

[zaqattack911]

Firstly, aren't LCDs on their way out for cheaper, better quality, and thinner OLED displays?

Once those are out, there is no need for a backlight, and I seriously doubt people will want to waste space putting in a crappy ass "sound membrane" (that's what I call it) inside.

Yes they are right, this sort of speaker does create a universal "sweet spot" because it distributes the sound evenly over distance but there is a shitload more thats needed to produce good sound. The freq range of the mambrane alone is complete ass, so they would have to sell you subwoofers integrated with computer case to rattle around your HDs harmoniously :)

Re:flawed business model?

[watzinaneihm]

When OLEDs come out they will put a acrylic membrane over the OLED screen and sell it .
From the article it looks like the membrane is external to the screen, basically put a plastic sheet over the LCD and made it vibrate. It, as it looks to me, doesnt have anything to do with the screen technology.They did it to LCD (and not CRT) because laptops have a space constraint.

Re:Fills a non-need with a nifty non-solution

[Nihilanth]

This is a common occurance of innovation being poo-pooed because the masses can't think of any way to apply it except to a desktop PC.

I wouldn't mind seeing this in my PDA or Cellphone (this would make a handy speakerphone), or in a handheld gaming system (the gameboy SP EX AR TL BW!!), or a tablet PC (where's the sound coming from? its c-r-a-z-y!!), or a laptop.

How about weather resistance. Speaker aperatures can let in water, but a weather-tight LCD screen that can project sound might be a boon indeed.

Cell Phone Screens

[thomasdelbert]

That could have the effect fo making a cell phone smaller yet making the display larger. Cooooool

- Thomas;

Are you kidding me?

[kid_wonder]

Hardware integration like this should make for some interesting appliances in the next few decades.

Like what? Let's hear some ideas of other integrations you'd like to see...

Refrigerator/Web browser? wow.
Watch/Telephone? uh huh.
Car/Plane? dream on.
Person/Jet pack? wake up.

You probably get all this from a speaker/LCD, right? Get down off the damn cloud. All they did was merge an LCD and speaker - flat speakers have been around for years using a variety of materials.