Imagine the sheets on your bed playing soft music as you lie down for bed, or your jacket humming to you as you walk down the street, or a clear sheet stretched over a window in your office playing music as the sun streams through…
That reality is coming sooner that you think as researchers led by Shoushan Fan at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, have created a speaker out of thin sheets of carbon nanotubes meaning that thin, fabric like speakers may not be that far in the future.
One of the main advantages of this technology is its robustness.
"Conventional loudspeakers which [produce sound] due to the vibration of the cone will fail to emit sound if the cone is broken. The carbon nanotube loudspeaker does not vibrate, which means it will still emit sound if part of the film is broken," according to NewScientist.
While nanotubes have been the focus of research for everything from drug delivery to space elevators, this is the first time researchers have delved deeper into their acoustic properties.
Hmm...what about musical undies??
Musical Fabric Speakers
Carbon Nanotube Sheets
Trend Themes
1. Carbon Nanotube Speakers - The innovation opportunity is to develop thin, fabric-like speakers with improved durability and flexibility.
2. Flexible Speaker Technology - The innovation opportunity is to develop flexible speakers that can be integrated into clothing and other personal items.
3. Acoustic Properties of Nanotubes - The innovation opportunity is to further explore the acoustic properties of nanotubes for various applications in audio technology.
Industry Implications
1. Consumer Electronics - Companies in this industry can explore the development of new devices that incorporate the flexible and durable carbon nanotube speaker technology.
2. Fashion - Fashion companies can explore the integration of flexible speaker technology into clothing and accessories for a unique and innovative product line.
3. Acoustics - This industry can explore the potential of nanotube technology for improving the quality of sound in various applications.