Hmmm, MSNBC has run a short article on Elwood ‘Woody’ Norris’ Hypersonic Sound System, which apparently beams highly directional audio to a listener using ultrasonic waves. The upshot of the piece is his claim that this is the next ‘big thing’, but I’m not convinced.
His company American Technology Corporation, has burnt through $30 million in 10 years developing the system, and it still sounds as if they have a way to go – quote: ….’and HSS isn�t yet perfected for the lower tones prevalent in music’.
The last time the media got all excited about this kind of transducer based technology – me included – was when NXT launched its new flat speaker technology, which was also going to ‘revolutionise’ the audio world. And what are they doing with it now? Making plastic inflatable Budweiser speakers for $20.00 a pop or something. Hardly a paradigm shift, eh?
Well, he does sell them to the Department of Defense, and if they are helping out the boys in Iraq and Afghanistan, I'd say they did revolutionize something.
My neighbor is using one of these as a sonic weapon against me!