Imagine a world where you move around in front of a computer in your own sound space. You listen to your favorite songs, play loud computer games or watch a movie-all without other people hearing the sound.
That's the possibility presented by "sound beaming," a new technology from Noveto Systems, an Israeli company. The company debuted a desktop device that sends sound directly to a listener without the need for headphones. The device included nature videos of birds on a lake, bees flying and a quiet waterway.
Because the device does not use headphones, it's possible to hear other sounds in the room clearly. The device uses a 3-D technology that finds and follows the ear position of the listener. It sends ultrasonic waves to create sound pockets by the user's ears. Sound can be heard in stereo or 3-D. The 3-D method creates sound on all sides of the listener. By changing a setting, the sound can follow a listener around when he moves his head. The listener doesn't need to tell the device where he is. It is also possible if the listener moves out of the sound beam's path, he hears nothing at all.
Ayana, the manager of the company, enjoys watching the reactions of people trying the technology for the first time. Most people just say, "Wow, I really don't believe it. No one else can hear but only you." One tester, Louise Dixon, writes that listening to the device is like something from a science fiction movie. The sound seems so close that it feels like it's inside your ears while also in front, above and behind them.
The company expects the device will have many uses. People could play a game, a movie or music without waking up others in the same room. Office workers could listen to music or have video meetings without others hearing.
While the idea of sound beaming is not new, Noveto was the first to make use of the technology. Its CEO Christophe Ramstein said a "smaller" version of the device would be on sale next year.
