A New Direction for Sound

Ultrasonics have been successfully used in medicine to break up gall stones, but from a consumer point of view our electronics provide relatively little control over how our sounds behave. In a hi-fi system, loudspeakers are still spreading waves in all directions (possibly upsetting the neighbours in the process).

Woody Norris has invented a system which provides much more control over sound waves. In fact, his speakers are so directional that you could listen to music in bed at full volume and the person beside you would not hear a thing.

In the following TED video, Woody explains a bit about his invention. One of his most avid early adopters was the US miliary - they used his device to create the sound of troop manoeuvres on a hillside a mile away, while the actual troops could proceed unheard. An even better tactic was to broadcast choice verses from the Koran straight into the ears of a suspected terrorist - the voice of God is now under military control...