Monday, May 09, 2011

Cool technology - One-way Sound Walls

Often in copy shows there will be a one-way mirror while suspects are being interrogated.  One-way Sound Walls Proven Possible reports that scientists have figured out a way to have sound only travel in one direction:

Imagine a room where a band is playing. Neighbors can't hear the music, but if someone outside the room is talking, the musicians can hear it.

The concept -- a kind of one-way mirror for sound -- seems imaginary, but two Italian scientists recently pushed this kind of sound manipulating technology closer to reality.

"Nonlinearity makes our world much richer than a linear world," said Giulio Casati, a physics professor and director of the Center for Nonlinear and Complex Systems at the University of Insubria. "It allows us much more possibility."

We live in such a cool world.

Hat tip: Slashdot


Luke said...



Henry Cate said...

I've thought some about the technology, and while it is pretty cool, I don't know where I'd use it. With the two brothers we had for foster care we put a baby monitor in the room so we could watch them after we put them to bed. There probably is some useful application of this technology, but I can't think of a situation where a microphone wouldn't be easier.