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Turn Your House Plants Into Speakers

Posted by timothy on from the audrey-already-sings dept.

thermopile writes "According to this story, your everyday houseplants could be turned into room-filling speakers. Called Ka-on ('Flower Sound' in Japanese), the machine consists of a donut-shaped magnet and coil at the base of a vase that hooks up to a CD player, stereo or TV. Prices range from $46 to $460. I don't know about you, but I'd hate getting fragged by that plant over there while playing Doom 3..."

6 of 193 comments (clear)

  1. repost however improved info by tod_miller · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is a report, but not of the same article. You can mention things more than once! :-)

    "Later this month, you'll be able to carry on a telephone conversation with a flower with a planned speaker phone model."

    So this is indeed new! I would love that. Now I just read Light Fantastic - where Rincewind is convinced the trees aren't talking to him!

    Little did he know it was all Ka-on (flower sound) and twoflower could have told him that!

    lol zomg rolflmao etc etc.

    --
    #hostfile 0.0.0.0 primidi.com 0.0.0.0 www.primidi.com 0.0.0.0 radio.weblogs.com
  2. Something... just something... by Silverlancer · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Something... just something... tells me that this isn't going to catch on. The fact that its both Japanese and relatively useless is a hint.

    1. Re:Something... just something... by meringuoid · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Hang on... if it's Japanese and relatively useless, that usually means something's going to be a massive hit!

      --
      Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
  3. Wow, no katakana by kahei · · Score: 5, Insightful



    I am absolutely amazed that they named it in honest-to-god pseudo-Chinese rather than calling it 'furauaa saundo' or something.

    Next, they'll start naming things in actual Japanese. Oh, wait, that would require attention to aesthetics and meaning rather than to sounding cool and vague.

    Bring back Heian period Japanese, say I.

    PS I am not a crank.

    --
    Whence? Hence. Whither? Thither.
  4. Long term effects? by Mortiss · · Score: 2, Insightful

    All well and good (plants liking music), but what would be long term effects of exposing plants directly to all vibrations (esp. if you like high volume)

    I for one wouldnt connect my award winning lily to it.

    (Afterthought) Got to check warranty for something like:
    "Company is not liable for any damge sustained by the plans due to the use of this equipment."

  5. oh? by Superjhemp · · Score: 2, Insightful

    'The inventor of the gadget, Keiji Koga, said: "We are finally able to experience plants and flowers with all five of our natural senses."'

    I'm guessing this guy's never slept in a tall pine forest. The sounds are amazing.