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Researchers Make Paper Speakers For LCD TVs

Posted by samzenpus on from the that-smooth-origami-sound dept.

narramissic writes "Engineers at Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) have developed stereo speakers in paper (video) that are are well suited for thin devices like LCD TVs and will be used in cars starting next year. According to an ITworld article, 'The special paper is made by sandwiching thin electrodes that receive audio signals and a prepolarized diaphragm into the paper structure. A special Flexpeaker adapter between the MP3 player and the speaker is used to play music through the paper.' ITRI says it hopes in the coming year to develop a chip that will do away with the adapter and allow people to plug a digital music player directly into the speaker. ITRI is also working on wireless technologies and will show off its first Bluetooth enabled paper speaker in July."

10 of 83 comments (clear)

  1. Paper? by oldspewey · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hasn't paper been the primary material in speaker design since, well, since speakers?

    --
    If libertarians are so opposed to effective government, why don't they all move to Somalia?
    1. Re:Paper? by SkyDude · · Score: 4, Funny

      You can do this in your living room. I did decades ago. Interleave aluminum foil and the pages of a newspaper.

      Newspaper? What's that?

      I'm guessing if one were to use the New York Times, only the left speaker would work. If using the Boston Globe, the speakers would only work when there's a discussion of gay marriage. And, if the speakers were made from the Chicago Trib - well, it wouldn't work at all.

      --
      == First cross river, then insult alligator.
  2. But are they MONSTER Paper Speakers? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    MONSTER Paper Speakers are made with the finest trees in the world. You won't hear better sound than from their fine pieces of papyrus.

  3. So... by Jaysyn · · Score: 4, Interesting

    They've been making paper speakers for a long time. This seems to be a driverless paper speaker, which apparently is a big deal. I guess technically the prepolarized diaphragm *is* the driver, but it isn't your standard cone / cylinder shape.

    --
    There is a war going on for your mind.
  4. Greeting cards... by dirkbaztard · · Score: 4, Insightful

    would benefit greatly from this. Full stereo cacophony instead of the over-driven mono racket would be a blessing.

    1. Re:Greeting cards... by DanWS6 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Even better: banning greeting cards and the holidays that were created for them.

  5. This is what they are selling by Krneki · · Score: 4, Informative

    I think this is what the story refers to:

    http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/03/researchers-cre

    --
    Love many, trust a few, do harm to none.
  6. Dear lord, this is horrible... by Chyeld · · Score: 5, Funny

    The goal for the researchers is to be able to mass produce standard poster-size speakers (A2, or 60centimeters by 44cm) costing just US$20 each. Movie makers could then put out posters with soundtrack music or movie highlights emanating from them as people walk by.

    Kill me now, please. Just kill me now.

    You thought those talking birthday cards were annoying? Just try walking in the mall as all 100,000 posters located in random locations start talking all at once, producing the noise which finally wakens those who must not be named and end reality as we believed it to be.

  7. It could be by treeves · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well, it's a great idea ON PAPER, but...

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    ...the future crusty old bastards are already drinking the Kool-Aid.
  8. Piezo-electric by CrAlt · · Score: 5, Interesting

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piezoelectric

    So they rediscovered the reverse piezoelectric effect and then glued it to some paper.

    Wow, I guess the 50 year old earphones on my crystal radio are cutting edge...

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    I have to return some videotapes...