Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

LCD Screens Double as Speakers

Posted by Hemos on from the so-many-submissions dept.

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."

5 of 216 comments (clear)

  1. light music? by TomRitchford · · Score: 3, Insightful

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

  2. Re:That's crazy! by ThePretender · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.

  3. laptops by Snuffub · · Score: 5, Insightful

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

    --
    --aiee
  4. flawed business model? by zaqattack911 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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 :)

  5. Re:Fills a non-need with a nifty non-solution by Nihilanth · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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.