Talking posters are set to hit the streets as researchers from Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute aim to mass produce poster-size, paper thin speakers for just $20 (€15) each. Rolls of the paper speakers have already been produced in Taiwan and the Institute claims they will start to be used in cars from next year. Video link for this story.
The $20 sheets will be 8.5†by 11†and
currently have a frequency response of 500Hz to 200Hz so
aren’t really designed for serious listening applications. However, researchers are
confident the product will be attractive to advertising agencies enticed
by its low cost and potential poster applications.
Layered
thin electrodes and a prepolarised diaphragm are sandwiched between two
sheets of paper to create the speaker.
The Institute hopes
to introduce the new technology at an upcoming exhibition in
Taipei and plans to unveil a huge, three-story-high banner that plays music.