press release

may 08, 2014

Sounds and Silence Coexist Peacefully in New York Public Library, Made Possible By Holosonics' Audio Spotlight Technology

Children and young adults flock to New York Public Library’s renovated and technology-rich Hamilton Grange Teen Center to enjoy one-of-a-kind multimedia vitrine. Audio Spotlight speakers by Holosonics provide focused sound for social video gaming and movie watching while maintaining a quiet library environment.

Recognizing the interests of neighborhood youth and their affinity for embracing future technologies, Rice+Lipka Associates sought out to provide the New York Public Library (NYPL) with an exciting, modern makeover of its Hamilton Grange Teen Center situated in the heart of New York City. By focusing on integrating fresh technologies to provide unique social experiences, Rice+Lipka were able to transform the aging facility into an open-concept hangout space full of interest, engagement, and community.

As the preservation of quiet is utterly synonymous with public library space, NYPL was faced with the challenge of catering to the increasingly multimedia-centric senses of today’s youth, without adding noise or distraction to the quiet library. Their solution was the unique Audio Spotlight directional speaker systems by Holosonics. A speaker technology unlike any other, the Audio Spotlight provides a narrow sound beam of coverage, with audio levels dropping over 90% only a single step away. Harnessing such directivity, the library could create a tight, well defined listening area, while maintaining quiet for all others outside this zone.

Several of Holosonics’ unique directional speakers were mounted over the circular listening area. Inside the boundary, teens can rock the afternoon away to Garage Band on the Wii, while others study peacefully, and quietly, just outside the isolated Audio Spotlight sound field.

Michael Beach, Project Manager for HB Communications, the AV integrator responsible for the Hamilton Grange install, shares, “The Audio Spotlight is impressively effective at localizing sound.” Beach elaborates, “Libraries are notorious for very closely monitored sound levels, so it’s not every day you see an open air media center with speakers pumping sound out right in the middle of one - the Audio Spotlights make that possible.”

“It’s pretty remarkable to be able to offer the only speaker technology with precise enough coverage to be tolerated in library settings,” states inventor Dr. F. Joseph Pompei, “It’s one of the most demanding environments concerning noise, and this success is a real testament to the Audio Spotlight’s unmatched sound eld control.”

Photo courtesy of Rice+Lipka Architects.

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