New Device Puts Music in Your Head
2020-11-17
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1Imagine a world where you move around in front of a personal computer in your own sound space.
2You listen to your favorite songs, play loud computer games or watch a movie - all without other people hearing the sound.
3That is the possibility presented by "sound beaming," a new technology from Noveto Systems, an Israeli company.
4On Friday, the company debuted a desktop device that sends sound directly to a listener without the need for headphones or a special receiver.
5Noveto Systems gave The Associated Press (AP) a chance to test its SoundBeamer 1.0 before its debut.
6The AP's Louise Dixon writes that listening to the device is like something from a science fiction movie.
7The sound seems so close it feels like it is inside your ears while also in front, above and behind them.
8Noveto expects the device will have many uses.
9Office workers could listen to music or conference calls without others hearing.
10People could play a game, a movie or music without waking up others in the same room.
11Because the device does not use headphones, it is possible to hear other sounds in the room clearly.
12The device uses a 3-D technology that finds and follows the ear position of the listener.
13It sends ultrasonic waves to create sound pockets by the user's ears.
14Sound can be heard in stereo or 3-D.
15The 3-D method creates sound on all sides of the listener, the company said.
16The demo version of the device included nature videos of birds on a lake, bees flying and a quiet waterway.
17SoundBeamer Product Manager Ayana Wallwater enjoys watching the reactions of people trying the technology for the first time.
18"Most people just say, 'Wow, I really don't believe it,'" she said.
19"You don't believe it because it sounds like a speaker, but no one else can hear it...it's supporting you and you're in the middle of everything. It's happening around you."
20By changing a setting, the sound can follow a listener around when they move their head.
21It also is possible to move out of the sound beam's path and hear nothing at all.
22"You don't need to tell the device where you are. It's not streaming to one exact place," Wallwater said.
23While the idea of sound beaming is not new, Noveto was the first to launch the technology.
24Its chief executive officer Christophe Ramstein said a "smaller" version of the device will be ready for release to consumers next year.
25I'm John Russell.
1Imagine a world where you move around in front of a personal computer in your own sound space. You listen to your favorite songs, play loud computer games or watch a movie - all without other people hearing the sound. 2That is the possibility presented by "sound beaming," a new technology from Noveto Systems, an Israeli company. 3On Friday, the company debuted a desktop device that sends sound directly to a listener without the need for headphones or a special receiver. 4Noveto Systems gave The Associated Press (AP) a chance to test its SoundBeamer 1.0 before its debut. The AP's Louise Dixon writes that listening to the device is like something from a science fiction movie. The sound seems so close it feels like it is inside your ears while also in front, above and behind them. 5Noveto expects the device will have many uses. Office workers could listen to music or conference calls without others hearing. People could play a game, a movie or music without waking up others in the same room. 6Because the device does not use headphones, it is possible to hear other sounds in the room clearly. 7The device uses a 3-D technology that finds and follows the ear position of the listener. It sends ultrasonic waves to create sound pockets by the user's ears. 8Sound can be heard in stereo or 3-D. The 3-D method creates sound on all sides of the listener, the company said. 9The demo version of the device included nature videos of birds on a lake, bees flying and a quiet waterway. 10SoundBeamer Product Manager Ayana Wallwater enjoys watching the reactions of people trying the technology for the first time. 11"Most people just say, 'Wow, I really don't believe it,'" she said. 12"You don't believe it because it sounds like a speaker, but no one else can hear it...it's supporting you and you're in the middle of everything. It's happening around you." 13By changing a setting, the sound can follow a listener around when they move their head. It also is possible to move out of the sound beam's path and hear nothing at all. 14"You don't need to tell the device where you are. It's not streaming to one exact place," Wallwater said. 15While the idea of sound beaming is not new, Noveto was the first to launch the technology. Its chief executive officer Christophe Ramstein said a "smaller" version of the device will be ready for release to consumers next year. 16I'm John Russell. 17Louise Dixon reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 18_____________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20beam - n. to send or broadcast something, such as a radio signal 21debut - v. to show or provide (something, such as a product, television show, etc.) to the public for the first time 22desktop - n. the workspace of a personal computer; a computer that is designed to be used on a desk or table 23headphones - n. a device that is worn over your ears and used for listening to music or a radio station without having other people hear it 24fiction - n. a story that describes imaginary events and people 253-D - adj. involving something that has height, width and depth 26ultrasonic - adj. used to describe sounds that are too high for humans to hear 27pocket - n. a small enclosure added to clothing and used for carrying small objects 28stereo - n. a way of recording and playing back sound so that the sound comes from two directions 29demo - n. short for demonstration model 30We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.