Not much has changed about speaker design in the last hundred years.  Most speakers still rely on electromagnetically driven cones to vibrate air and generate sound.  While manufacturers can tweak amplifier designs, crossover frequencies, cabinet shapes, and driver materials, the fundamental physics of generating sound aren’t very conducive to new techniques.

Now, Emo Labs has developed a piezo-actuator driven, clear plastic membrane that can be incorporated into the manufacture of TV’s or other device viewing screens.  By vibrating the perimeter of the plastic screen, sound is generated at its perceived source, thus eliminating the separation which sometimes occurs between the screen and center channel of multi-channel home theater setups.  Called “Edge Motion” speaker technology, the company claims it is capable of frequency response and power output similar to traditional speaker applications for a given screen size.

Implemented into mobile applications like laptops, cell phones, PDAs, or other personal media players, Edge Motion speaker technology will reduce overall device size and eliminate the need for external mobile speaker solutions.  Additionally, since the screen membrane can be clamped in its center to prevent vibration, effectively creating two distinct sound generating regions, stereo output is achievable without any additional hardware.

While there’s something to be said for an impressive array floor-standing mains, center, and surround speakers in a home theater, unless the room serves a dedicated purpose, large speakers tend to be an eye sore and get in the way of other activities.  Edge Motion based speakers could be developed and creatively installed in any room to offer a full range, on demand, audio experience.

[Via:  Gizmodo]