Inflatable Loudspeakers

fm6 sent in an article running at New Scientist talking about new technology that allows Inflatable Loud Speakers. The technology is apparently patented and there's not a lot of technical details, but I have to say the concept amuses me. And I somehow doubt that this technology will ever be used in high fidelity home systems.

Well, just another device

[epsalon]

you need to blow air into for it to play sounds...
Flute, anyone?

My Inflateable Life

[MBCook]

This should go great with my inflateable couch, pillows, and girl :)

All I need now is an inflateable stero and some inflateable CDs. Seriously though, how cool is this? And wouldn't it be awesome to inflate/deflate them while their ON? Bet that would sound awesome.

Helium?

[infinite9]

If you fill them with helium, will your music sound like the chipmonks?

patented?

[stickb0y]

The technology is apparently patented and there's not a lot of technical details

I thought the patent process requires that the inventor disclose information about how the product works, and after the patent expires the public can use it freely. Isn't it opposed to a trade secret, where the inventor doesn't get protection if someone else reverse-engineers the product or happens to invent the same thing independently?

Watch out for ricocheting guitars

[MagnaMark]

A speaker driver is mounted in a flat, rigid board bonded to a large bladder. When the bladder is inflated, it expands to form a box shape resembling a speaker cabinet.

I'd like to see the first time someone tries to dramatically smash their guitar against the speakers at the end of a set.

Re:My Inflateable Life

[PD]

This should go great with my inflateable couch, pillows, and girl :)

With all that, I'm surprised that your ego isn't inflated.

RealSpeakers

[Dolly_Llama]

I'll to get some to entertain my *inflate* *inflate* girlfriend..

Re:Poor roadies?

[spudnic]

Actually you may have hit upon a great idea... Fill them up with helium and let the speakers float above the crowd! Talk about trippy.

Quick, patent it!

YAIP (Yet Another Inflatible Pun)

[The Iconoclast]

Pump up the Jam! Pump it Up! Pump it UP!!

Terminology is wrong

[dwlemon]

"..rock groups need roadies to hump.."

No. Those are groupies.

Indoor/Outdoor

[uigrad_2000]

In my church, they would be easy to hang from the top of the ceiling. (I can't imagine what it's like lifting a 30lb speaker all the way up there!)

For outdoor concerts, they could be filled with helium, and allowed to float. Wouldn't it be awesome to see the speakers fluttering in the wind!

And, in my living room, I might get 5 small ones to hang from my ceiling fan.

I can't wait!

Unclear on the concept.

[blair1q]

If you could make speakers and enclosures out of lightweight materials, it would have been done long before now.

They're made out of 3/4th-inch plywood to take the stress of constant packing and unpacking.

I predict the first tour that tries to use these things will end up with what looks like the first all-duct-tape speaker enclosures by the end of the trip.

--Blair

Dammit... there they go again...

[Anonymous Coward]

those kids in their souped up hot-air balloon, flying all around the block, with their rap music blaring... You can hear the bass for miles...

There used to be a time when the sound those kids could make was limited to volume/carrying capacity of a honda civic.

What's my name, bitch?!

[Pope]

Flute, anyone?

Damn that Alyson Hannigan is sexy...

But, but...

[Fear the Clam]

What will raveGrrrls stand on top of to dance? What will dweebBoyz jump from to crowd surf? My whole '90s world -- gone!

At least I'll always have my tribal tattoo.

Re:My Inflateable Life

[billcopc]

Does that mean that a Real Life comes with a RealCouch, RealPillows, RealDoll and RealSpeakers ? Would that make you a RealPlayer ?