"Spotlight" audio at DVinfo.net

John Locke · January 3rd, 2003, 09:28 PM

Has anyone heard anything about the "spotlight transducers" that Sennheiser and MIT are working on? A news program here said it would allow four people sitting in a car to listen to four different radio stations or CDs...but without headphones! The sound is sent in a narrow beam, like a spotlight, in the direction of one listener only. People sitting right next to that person can't hear it because they're out of the audio "beam" focus.

Pretty fascinating. I wonder how this could be applied to DV, filmmaking, theaters, etc?

Mark Austin · January 4th, 2003, 12:50 AM

but have not heard that anyone has a working system yet. You could go to a theater and hear the movie in your language, not nessasarily the one of the country you lived in.

There are massive problems with containing the signal, even though air has pretty uniform properties, it is fluid enough to make the task very difficult. Sound has a nasty dendency to get reflected of almost anything, like the head of the person sitting next to you in the car, who no doubt would just adore something that you abhor.

The first time I heard of this idea was probably ten to fifteen years ago, so it's not easy to master.
Mark

Ken Tanaka · January 4th, 2003, 01:05 AM

I believe that the underlying concept is similar to that of the audio weapons currently under development. A very tightly focused field of sonic energy powerful enough to disable someone without seriously injuring them and without affecting those nearby.

John Locke · January 4th, 2003, 07:50 AM

Audio weapons! Brings Noriega to mind. Can you imagine two soldiers in the hospital talking...

Soldier 1: I took a 9mm in the leg. What got you?
Soldier 2: I got hit right between the eyes with Kathie Lee Gifford's Greatest Hits.

Supposedly, Chrysler Daimler has already set up a system in one of their concept cars.

Marc Betz · January 4th, 2003, 08:35 AM

I think poor soldier 2 would be in the morgue not the hospital.

: )

Doug Quance · January 4th, 2003, 09:59 AM

Well, we did blast "Stranglehold" by Ted Nugent from certain helicopters when we first started Desert Storm...

I wonder what we'll use this time?

Alex Taylor · January 5th, 2003, 12:34 PM

The Audio Spotlight is being developed by Holosonic Research Labs.. you can see their site here. There's a bunch of information on how it works. It sounds pretty interesting!

January 3rd, 2003, 09:28 PM	#1
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	"Spotlight" audio Has anyone heard anything about the "spotlight transducers" that Sennheiser and MIT are working on? A news program here said it would allow four people sitting in a car to listen to four different radio stations or CDs...but without headphones! The sound is sent in a narrow beam, like a spotlight, in the direction of one listener only. People sitting right next to that person can't hear it because they're out of the audio "beam" focus. Pretty fascinating. I wonder how this could be applied to DV, filmmaking, theaters, etc? __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com

January 4th, 2003, 12:50 AM	#2
Mark Austin Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 188	I have heard about it before but have not heard that anyone has a working system yet. You could go to a theater and hear the movie in your language, not nessasarily the one of the country you lived in. There are massive problems with containing the signal, even though air has pretty uniform properties, it is fluid enough to make the task very difficult. Sound has a nasty dendency to get reflected of almost anything, like the head of the person sitting next to you in the car, who no doubt would just adore something that you abhor. The first time I heard of this idea was probably ten to fifteen years ago, so it's not easy to master. Mark __________________ I'm humbled by the greatness that surrounds me.

January 4th, 2003, 01:05 AM	#3
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	I believe that the underlying concept is similar to that of the audio weapons currently under development. A very tightly focused field of sonic energy powerful enough to disable someone without seriously injuring them and without affecting those nearby. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

January 4th, 2003, 07:50 AM	#4
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	Audio weapons! Brings Noriega to mind. Can you imagine two soldiers in the hospital talking... Soldier 1: I took a 9mm in the leg. What got you? Soldier 2: I got hit right between the eyes with Kathie Lee Gifford's Greatest Hits. Supposedly, Chrysler Daimler has already set up a system in one of their concept cars. __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com

January 4th, 2003, 08:35 AM	#5
Marc Betz Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: NH Posts: 95	Alas I think poor soldier 2 would be in the morgue not the hospital. : ) __________________ Marc Betz

January 4th, 2003, 09:59 AM	#6
Doug Quance Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 138	Well, we did blast "Stranglehold" by Ted Nugent from certain helicopters when we first started Desert Storm... I wonder what we'll use this time? __________________ If you're not the lead dog... the scenery never changes

January 5th, 2003, 12:34 PM	#7
Alex Taylor Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 390	The Audio Spotlight is being developed by Holosonic Research Labs.. you can see their site here. There's a bunch of information on how it works. It sounds pretty interesting! __________________ alextaylor.org