Scientists from the well-known institute in Massachusetts have managed to use a laser to transmit audio (music and speech) to a particular person without any receiving device: the future of audio and communication is born.
In a paper published in Optics Letters magazine, the team describes the development stages of the methods for transmitting music and voice in a revolutionary way.
"Our system can send remote sounds directly to a person's ear," explains Charles M Wynn, author of the study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "He is the first to use lasers that are totally harmless to eyes and skin."
The key factor in this research lies in the photoacoustic effect, ie the formation of sound waves that occurs as a result of the absorption of light by a material: in the specific case water vapor sprayed in the air.
This technique allowed the transmission of sound at a distance of 2 and a half meters and at the volume of 60 decibels (equal to a conversation in a crowded place).
What applications for this technology?
In terms of communication, these searches could bring important changes: imagine a situation of danger or kidnapping with the police who are able to send instructions only to the ear of a hostage, without letting the kidnapper listen.
"We hope this will soon become a commercial technology," the researcher is hoped Ryan M. Sullenberger. "There are many exciting applications."
