This fall the audio industry will be singing to a different tune. Using the Hypersonic Sound System, speakers will be cheaper, clearer and more directional. A single speaker could replace tweeter, midrange and woofer speakers, and also broadcast sounds over a longer and more focused range.
"Sound is like a domino affect between air molecules," Universe Physics Lecturer Robert Watkins said.
Traditional speakers take advantage of this property by rapidly vibrating a thin sheet of material to transmit sounds through the compression and decompression of air.
Because the full human audio spectrum ranges from approximately 20 to 20,000 Hz, a huge difference in magnitude, it is impossible for a single speaker to oscillate at those frequencies.
The use of high frequency tweeters, mid range speakers and low frequency woofers creates distortion near the limits of each speaker's frequency range.
The hypersonic sound system avoids this problem by producing sound in the form of two ultrasonic waves of extremely high frequencies above the human hearing range.
Although these waves cannot be heard, their interaction with each other and the air produces sounds which are audible.
The waves can be targeted to use certain objects as disruptions to make sound seem to originate from their location.
For example, when the waves vary at a person, the distortion caused by their body creates audible sounds on the spot, making it seem as if they were hearing things in their head.
These ultrasonic waves are varied between 200,000 to 220,000 Hz, allowing a single speaker to create sounds covering the full range of human hearing.
Home sound systems will no longer need rear speakers since the hypersonic sound system can produce a similar effect by directing waves at rear walls.
Using this technology, movie theaters can add realism by projecting sound that would seem to come from moving locations on the walls and ceilings.
The military also can use hypersonic sound to create a diversion in preparation for an attack by projecting the sounds of fighting at enemies.
An additional benefit of ultrasonic waves is that they also travel more tightly than normal sound waves, similar to how light from a flashlight is more focusedthan light from a candle. Focused sound can travel up to 150 yards without any distortion or volume loss.
This property also allows sound to be "shined" over a specific area, meaning a message broadcasted to a person could not be heard by someone standing next to them.
HSS loudspeaker would allow lifeguards, police and others to send messages to people without disturbing those around them. Museums could describe specific information to those standing in front of different exhibits.
This new technology has already been contracted for targeted advertisement, and the possibilities are numerous and varied.Vending machines could tempt those passing in front with the pop and tinkle of a soothing can of soda.Aisles in a supermarket could describe the quality of the merchandise and offer promotions to shoppers in the area.
The military has also been busy developing HSS as a non-lethal weapon in the form of high intensity directed acoustics (HIDA).
According to Elwood Norris, the inventor of HSS, speakers can produce sounds of excruciating frequencies and decibels. "HIDA can instantaneously cause loss of equilibrium, vomiting, migraines -- really, we can pretty much pick our ailment," Norris said.
The discovery of hypersonic sound was both an accident and a stroke of genius.
Norris first discovered hypersonic sound in 1996. While he was experimenting with non-linearity generated signals, he noticed that two slightly different signals above the hearing range would produce an audible sound.
With further experimentation he determined that the sound was being caused by the non-linearity of the air. For the past years he and his company, American Technology Corporation (ATC) have been hard at work increasing the range and efficiency of HSS.
Think this sounds more like science fiction than reality? Think again.ATC recently began producing and shipping HSS units to its clients.So the next time you pass a vending machine and a voice in your head says you're thirsty, it could just be that vending machine trying to sell you soda.
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