Speaker Projection Technology

[jwramp]

I need to write a paper on a technology that can implements Mechanical Engineering, and was looking into that speaker technology that "throws" the sound to a specific region in 3-dimensional space. This would make personalized advertisements like you see in Minority Report possible - or you could have some sort of surround sound system maybe. I, for the life of me, could not remember what this was called and figured that someone might have a clue here. Any links you might have, as well?

[DanT]

Hypersonic Sound (HSS) Directional Speaker from American Technology corporation maybe

http://www.directionalsound-usa.com/hss/450.php
http://www.directionalsound-usa.com/hss/index.php

[Sleestack]

Originally Posted by jwramp

I need to write a paper on a technology that can implements Mechanical Engineering, and was looking into that speaker technology that "throws" the sound to a specific region in 3-dimensional space. This would make personalized advertisements like you see in Minority Report possible - or you could have some sort of surround sound system maybe. I, for the life of me, could not remember what this was called and figured that someone might have a clue here. Any links you might have, as well?

Something like the Yamaha YSP800 or YSP 1000?

Edit.... I think the Hypersonic above is more of what you are looking for.

[mbriant]

Polk Audio was the first I can remember that marketed loudspeakers which would give a surround effect from only two speakers. Matthew Polk demonstrated them to me himself, and they did indeed work ... somewhat. Every once in a while you would swear a sound eminated from behind you or off to the side. I can't remember what they were calling it, but "holographic" comes to mind.....or was that part of Bob Carver's marketing jingo?

I believe American Technology's technology doesn't give a surround effect, but rather focusses the sound like a laser beam so you have to be located in a very narrow "sweet spot" in order to hear it. It can also project sound in a very narrow field over long distances. I think some of Disney's rides use this technology and it's also been developed as a weapon.

EDIT: I asked a former associate of mine if he remembered and this was his reply:

Originally Posted by Alan Lofft

The circuit that Polk used is called a "crosstalk cancellation circuit". I don't remember what Polk's proprietary name for it was, but you are right--if you sat on-axis more or less exactlly between the front stereo speakers, it could produce amazing effects. If you moved off-axis to either side, the effect disappeared. Matthew Polk installed the circuit inside his upscale tower speakers and you couldn't disable it, which was a problem because at times it seemed like the speakers were out of phase.

Bob Carver marketed a similar circuit and called his "Sonic Holography". It was in his preamps and you could disable it if you wanted.

There was another accessory box sold by a company called Sound Concepts that appeared long before Polk's or Carver's implementation. I remember Ian Masters and I testing the thing for AudioScene Canada. It was lots of fun with certain recordings but it had the same fundamental problem--it only worked for one listener or if you lined up your chairs one behind the other.