If I may say so, this sounds like some crazy shit! http://www.msnbc.com/news/786016.asp

Yes, it is.. though that talk of vending machines being able to talk to YOU, makes me ready to reach for the aluminum foil to wrap my head.

On the other hand.. if it really can't handle most of the audio specturm.. (mention of not handling low frequencies well) I don't think its going to become the new way everyone will enjoy their music.

Using the beat effect between two ultrasonic waves seems a brillant idea to me

I suppose it would be very difficult to create a stereo image by directing four different ultrasound beams (two of them to each ear). Or you have to fix your head in some way or another to prevent it to move a milimeter from the desired position

Just wait until some unethical types (i.e. Spammers) get a hold of this.

You are walking down the street when you hear offers to make money in your spare time at home, then how to make your penis larger, then your breasts largers, how to get meds from overseas, porn site offers, and much more.

This tech could really make life uncomfortable. I can go outside to escape spam (or use Mailwasher inside); but having spammers target me outdoors would be too evil.

Maybe I worry too much, but I have to look at how something can be abused. Watching Congress, the RIAA, and the MPAA taught me much on how the public can be screwed.

Kimberly, having too much time on her hands.

Its this kind of thing that infuriates me. Anyone who has seen Minority Report will have seen the scene of Tom Cruise walking through shopping malls and being directly sold to by personalised holographic projections.

"Good Evening Roberto Amorim, we have some new Sennheiser headphones in, great for ABXing with your friend Ruairi Fullam!!"

Targeted and direct marketing is painful, and the future looks pretty grim.

Ruairi

It should be possible to built a detector analyzing the ultrasonic waves and computing the point of emission.
Then it could throw back a radioactive beam that would disintegrate the protons of the emitter's brain and allow us to control it, then we could send him at home to have the washing done before we are back

I was thinking the same sort of thing but with a bb-gun, involving blowing small holes in the ultrasonic emitter.

The idea is cool, the uses may not be (which is a damn shame really.... it would be a cool trick at a gig.)

gnoshi

what about communication? would be cool to be able to get your friend's attention without shouting... or perhaps whisper "death" into their ear, as i am commonly found doing

although, this could also be used for malicious purposes, such as cheating on tests or in casinos...

but then again, the army! radio signals are easily detectable, whereas these waves can be directed percisely. hmmm...

guys, don't forget that a nice set of speakers can't be beaten when you can actually feel the sound... i really doubt this would have much use for music in the home. why not just use wireless headphones for that purpose? or is your hairstyle just too cool for that? hehe

Why am I seeing visions of a Giant Monkey tossing villagers into the sea just now?

Maybe making audio announcements like that will be one of the first things Lionshead Studios does with this technology! :evil:

If they're discussing "possible military uses," it means the military has been using the technology for years and it's just filtering down to the general public now.