Enterprise Server Posted September 15, 2004 Report Share Posted September 15, 2004 Ok, ok.....uhhhhh....I'm somewhat of hi-tech kinda guy. Well....actually more like a "hi-tech wannabe" But is this too hi-tech? Maybe not too hi-tech but more like sci-fi? Where do you draw the line or in the hi-tech age there are no lines to be drawn. Ok, ok....I concede. I'm too old and to hi-tech challenged to see it coming. I digress..... ____________________________________________________________________ Japan Gadget Turns Plants Into Speakers 6:32 am 14 sept 2004 By YURI KAGEYAMA, AP Business Writer TOKYO - The therapeutic power of flowers takes on new meaning with a Japanese gadget that turns plants into audio speakers, making the petals and leaves tremble with good vibrations. Called Ka-on, which means "flower sound" in Japanese, the machine consists of a donut-shaped magnet and coil at the base of a vase that hooks up to a CD player, stereo or TV. Place the flowers into the vase, turn on Ka-on and the magnet and coil relay the sound vibrations up the stems through the plant's water tubes. Near your ear and hear the music emanate from the petals. Touch a leaf, and feel it shake as though in a quiet dance. Later this month, you'll be able to carry on a telephone conversation with a flower with a planned speaker phone model. Unlike regular speakers, which send sound in one direction, Ka-on shoots it in all directions, filling an entire room with music in a more natural ambiance. Masumi Gotoh, president of Let's Corp., a Nagoya-based telecommuncations-equipment company that developed and manufactures Ka-on, calls it ideal for flower table-arrangements at weddings, reception desks at hospitals and decoration at restaurants. Ka-on vases and amplifiers come in various sizes, ranging in price from $46 to $460. There's a version that works with potted plants, and a wireless connection will soon be available for piping music to the Ka-on. Not only does Ka-on deliver flowery music, it keeps bugs off plants and helps cut flowers last longer, Gotoh claims. "The plant is happy listening to music," says Gotoh, showing off a rubber plant hooked up to Ka-on in his Tokyo office. "Gerberas and sunflowers work especially well as speakers." Ka-on is also being used for concerts. Several Ka-on were planted near a bamboo grove to play music at a recent event in Japan. About 3,000 of $46 Ka-on version, on sale via the Internet since July, have been sold and some 10,000 orders have been received so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted September 15, 2004 Report Share Posted September 15, 2004 Can you use dwarf plants for headphones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catesta Posted September 15, 2004 Report Share Posted September 15, 2004 Can you use dwarf plants for headphones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catesta Posted September 15, 2004 Report Share Posted September 15, 2004 BTW, I've been using this technology for years, check out my towers or power. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
couw Posted September 15, 2004 Report Share Posted September 15, 2004 most impressive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted September 15, 2004 Report Share Posted September 15, 2004 I'll be more impressed when they can make a willow actually weep. For me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Man with the Golden Arm Posted September 15, 2004 Report Share Posted September 15, 2004 I'll be more impressed when they can make a willow actually weep. For me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejp626 Posted September 15, 2004 Report Share Posted September 15, 2004 This reminds me of the time in the 1970s when researchers "proved" that plants -- and yogurt cultures -- had feelings. That said, I remember a cool shop that had a lamp wired to a bush, so you touched the leaves to turn the light on and off. It would be quite a downer though, to come home and find that your speakers had died because you forgot to water them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neveronfriday Posted September 15, 2004 Report Share Posted September 15, 2004 Can you use dwarf plants for headphones? Yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
couw Posted September 15, 2004 Report Share Posted September 15, 2004 how it works: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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