If you want to enjoy a song or movie in private, the only way you can do so is through the use of headphones which prevents other people from hearing what you’re hearing. However, sometimes headphones aren’t comfortable for extended periods of time, and it also makes it harder for you to hear what’s going on around you.
However, an Israeli firm by the name of Noveto Systems has developed what they’re calling sound beaming technology that beams sound from a source directly into your ears without the need for headphones. This creates personal listening pockets that helps ensure users have a certain degree of privacy.
While we have yet to try it out ourselves, the folks at The Associated Press were given a demonstration of how it worked, and according to them, it felt extremely realistic where the sound felt like it was coming from inside your ears, while at the same time feeling like it’s coming from all around them. We can’t speak to the sound quality and how it compares to audiophile grade headphones or speakers, but there are some potential practice uses for the tech.
It could allow office workers to enjoy music in their cubicle without distracting their co-workers. It could also allow people in the future to watch and listen to music or videos on their phones in public without being a nuisance. When exactly we’ll be seeing this technology make its way into consumer-grade products remains to be seen, but it sounds like a fantastic idea.