press release

june 13, 2014

Audio Spotlight's Sound Beam Turns Heads At The Smithsonian Future Is Here Festival in Washington, D.C.

New Audio Spotlight models feature built-in amplifier and media player, IR remote control, and advanced audio processing including proprietary bass enhancement, among other exciting features.

Mythbusters’ Kari Byron and Outrageous Acts of Science’s Deborah Berebichez use Holosonics’ unique Audio Spotlight directional loudspeaker technology to captivate festival audience, and demonstrate that the future of sound is already here.

Holosonics’ Audio Spotlight speakers sound like the stuff of science fiction: they produce a narrow beam of sound with the same precision as a flashlight. At any point inside the beam sound is clear and present, literally surrounding the listener’s head, while just a single step or two outside the narrow coverage area sonic bleed is nearly inaudible. Harnessing the miniature wavelengths of an ultrasonic carrier, and relying on entirely different physics than traditional loudspeakers, Holosonics’ Audio Spotlight system is literally capable of providing sound where you want it, and preserving the quiet where you don’t.™

The Audio Spotlight technology was a perfect fit for the spirit of The Smithsonian’s Future Is Here Festival, an annual celebration and exploration of science, technology, culture and the arts gathered around the exciting, elastic theme of future technology. Focused on motivating young people in science, guest speakers Deborah Berebichez of Science Channel’s Outrageous Acts of Science and Kari Byron of Discovery Channel’s Mythbusters used the Audio Spotlight speaker to pan the audience, giving those in attendance a truly unique listening experience.

As Berebichez explains, “We discussed the physics of sound and demonstrated the futuristic effect of Holosonics’ Audio Spotlight speaker by beaming the popular Pharrell Williams song ‘Happy’ to the audience. Having never experienced anything similar before, people laughed and applauded as the beam of music passed by their heads, and the excitement could be felt in the room.”

To help relate the benefits of Holosonics’ directional speakers, Byron and Berebichez referenced Hollywood’s science fiction blockbuster ‘Minority Report,’ which included scenes where actor Tom Cruise was singularly targeted on a public sidewalk with personalized retail advertising announcements. The futuristic concept was based directly on Holosonics’ Audio Spotlight technology, and adding controlled sound to digital signage or in-store product displays are already two of the more popular applications for their directional speakers.

Kari and Debbie discussed other practical applications where controlled sound is of particular benefit, such as museums, galleries, and trade show exhibits, kiosks, waiting rooms, offices, and healthcare facilities, and even assisted listening for the hard of hearing. As the technology continues to mature and evolve, they expect Holosonics’ speakers could one day be found in every household, allowing families to split-screen TV’s and listen to different programming from opposite sides of the same couch, or to help a slumbering partner sleep more comfortably in peace while their spouse watches TV beside them in bed.

Kari shares, “The Holosonic speaker is a perfect example of how today’s innovations can impact our daily lives for years to come. It was great to demonstrate the power of the Audio Spotlight technology to a science-minded audience.”

Photo copyright Sharon Farmer, sfphotoworks.

About Holosonic Research Labs, Inc.

Holosonic Research Labs, Inc., a pioneer in directional acoustics, develops and manufactures the Audio Spotlight® directional sound system. Founded in 1999 by MIT graduate Dr. F. Joseph Pompei, Holosonics’ Audio Spotlight technology is used in a wide variety of applications including museums, libraries, offices, reception areas, retail displays, trade shows and retail kiosks. The world’s top organizations and companies use the Audio Spotlight directional sound system to beam sound to their listeners... and preserve the quiet.™

Press inquiries: press@holosonics.com