Thursday 30 October 2014

Spotlight on Innovation: What is Whispering Windows Technology?


                                                        Photo credit: Nock Agnecy

Whispering Windows Technology is the creation of a British company called Feonic. Whispering Windows Technology is ‘invisible audio’ technology that allows music or public announcements to be played via walls, floors and ceilings. Feonic’s products use a smart material that changes shape in a magnetic field. Originally developed for sonar devices for the US Navy this material is now commercially available. Feonic patented their technology in 2002 and created SoundBug, the first of their invisible audio products in the same year.

How does Whispering Windows Technology work?

The products use the use the unique force created by the change in shape of this smart material to vibrate structures such as floors, glass windows, Endcaps, mannequins, shelves and walls. This creates highly intelligible wide bandwidth sound. A Whispering Window is small and easily hidden and so it appears to members of the public that windows or walls are producing the sound and they continue to be amazed by this when they come into contact with the technology.

What are the Benefits of Whispering Windows Technology?

* Shop window displays can be made more interesting and engaging with the addition of Store Window Display Speakers

* Consumers see thousands of marketing messages each day and remember very few of these messages. Using Whispering Windows Technology will virtually guarantee that any message associated will be remembered.

* Routine visual displays can become multi-sensory experiences that deliver more impact and attract new customers. There is empirical evidence to substantiate this statement. For example, in the UK a retail store called Peter Jones experienced a 40% increase in sales during the first week that Whispering Windows was used to promote its range of products.

How does this relate to the Vertical Transportation Industry?

Whispering Windows Technology can he applied to elevators, escalator walls, lift shafts. It could also fitted into Inclinators and Travelators. The image accompanying this post shows City Airport in London. The Whispering Windows Technology has been installed onto the lift shaft on behalf of a client, Credit Suisse*. Members of the public were amazed to hear jungle sounds as they travelled up the escalators and were drawn to the advertisement.

Where else can Whispering Windows Technology be used?

Public Address Announcements at train stations or in the marine environment.

* Professional Audio Sound Zones. Music can be performed live or DJs can perform and the sound transmitted via invisible audio to an appreciative audience. The quality of the sound is much better than traditional speakers.

* Home sound systems. The technology can be used to re-define high quality surround sound with the added benefit of creating invisible speakers.

* Marine Speakers for yacht entertainments systems and waterproof speakers for outdoor use such as a wooden deck can be created using the technology.

* Vandal Proof invisible speakers can be installed in environments where aesthetics and security are important. Museums, galleries and listed buildings are good examples of this kind of installation.

* Outdoor Living - Whispering Windows can also be used outside. Invisible audio can create weather and tamper resistant music systems – great for bars and restaurants that utilise outdoor spaces.

Dunbar and Boardman keep a watching brief on technological advances within the vertical transportation industry to better serve our clients. Dunbar and Boardman is the lift, escalator and access equipment consultancy. Do you have a current or planned project that would benefit from using Whispering Windows Technology? We would be happy to discuss any such requirements and how we may be able to assist. Give us a call on T +44 (0) 20 7739 5093 or send us an email via peterboardman@dunbarboardman.com
to start the conversation. We look forward to hearing from you.


*Designed and installed by the Nock Agency

To find out more about Whispering Windows visit the website.

1 comment:

  1. This is really nice to read content of this blog.
    We ate manufactures and suppliers Lift manufacturer company in Delhi NCR.
    http://www.spaceelevators.org

    ReplyDelete