Speakerless sound system

       While watching your favourite movie on a home theatre, how nice it would be if there were no big black speakers or tangles of wires to deal with. An innovative new gadget is helping to do away with the hassle of clunky speakers and messy wiring.
       Developed at a university in the UK and adopted by the US Navy for sonar application and then de-restricted for commercial use, a new "smart material"can turn any flat surface into a speaker,according to FeONIC (SEA) managing director Eugene Sta Maria.
       Using the highest power density magnetostrictive smart material that can provide wide bandwidth audio signals,FeONIC audio drives convert new and existing structures of commonly used resonant building materials into high quality loudspeakers using vibrations.
       The structural surface acts as a powerful distributed mode (non-directional)speaker suitable for both audio reproduction and public address (PA) systems,meeting the EN60849 standard for acoustic quality in public places. The converted panels do not emit from a single point source, but exhibit a flatter, even distribution of sound across the entire surface.
       The system works on almost every material including composite board,plaster, wood and glass as well as metal.The sound is immersive in specific areas ranging from 8 to 12 metres depending on power and material that reduces interference from outside factors.
       The device is suitable for exhibitions,stadiums, buses, subway stations, trains,home and pro audio systems, shop fronts,buildings, boardroom tables, gardens,spas, sauna rooms, yachts - in fact,any place that needs a sound system without speakers getting in the way. It also requires less installation compared to traditional speakers such as those used in PA systems in hospitals.
       It is also easy to maintain because there are no moving parts and it can be hidden in the wall which protects it from dust,making the lifespan three to five times longer than that of traditional speakers.
       In the past, this audio system was quite expensive and more widely used in Europe, but from the beginning of this year the UK headquarters decided to assemble its products in China which has driven the price down by 30 to 40 percent which make it more affordable in Asean countries.
       The company provides a range of consumer and industrial acoustic drives for mid-range installation and home theatre systems, providing a neat integrated yet speakerless environment without a reduction in sound quality.
       On the go speaker: First in the world
       Later this year, FeONIC will launch Soundbug 2, the world's first Bluetooth wireless technology speaker which can act as an "on the go speaker".
       The new device will produce very good quality sound compared to other speakers in its size and class. It has a sleek design and comes with a six-hour battery. It can be used to sound enable surfaces where one would use a laptop or any portable device which supports Bluetooth technology.
       The company is also in discussion with partners to package the SoundBug 2 with their existing products. Compatible products include laptops, netbooks and phones that have Bluetooth built in to establish an audio connection with the SoundBug 2. The price will be around 3,000 baht.
       Creating new advertising paradigms
       Stephen Riches, managing director of Synergise, one of FeONIC's customers and distributor in Thailand, added that the device can be utilised to make immersive advertising by combining digital media with elements of sound close to the users.
       In the past, outdoor advertising was difficult because someone could steal speakers located outside and external noises could interfere with the adverting message.
       "You can imagine that as you walk pass a big digital display or digital poster at the department store and there is a voice telling you of an interesting promotion which may attract customers to visit the store.
       From an indoor perspective, it can be used as 'last mile advertising'. For instance, as someone opens a refrigerator to buy a soft drink a voice for promotion may change the consumer's mind to buy something else."
       Singapore uses the system for advertising at bus stations, in the UK, the system has been installed in museums.