Sound Lasers

I dunno, maybe this is a thing already and has a more appropriate name because using the word "laser" doesn't really work outside of light-based applications, what with the "L" part of "laser" meaning "light".

Anyway, I was thinking that it would be useful to have an ultra-directional sound device so that I could listen to music without worrying about the sound leaking out into the world around me, potentially and inadvertently cultivating angry neighbours. Particularly if I'd like to hear it at a socially unacceptable volume late at night.

The immediate solution is of course to use headphones. I don't always want to wear headphones though, irrespective of in-ear/over-ear design. Sometimes you just want your ears to be free.

So, sound lasers. They need to be a thing. A speaker system that creates a highly-directional and narrow sound that is directed directly into the ears, and cannot be heard elsewhere. Sounds are, after all, a bit leaky.

There's an added personal benefit here too, that others would also get immense value from. I have a weird hearing thing where I can't always separate sounds, and in particular, voices, out properly in noisy places; and by that, I don't necessarily mean loud - just noisy. I forget what it's called, other than "highly annoying", which, to be fair is more of a description than a name. I digress... the point is, using this technology would allow that problem to be overcome too.

You could also use them to talk to somebody across a loud crowded space without hassle. A near-range phone... without a phone.

Concept (c) 2019 Let's build a thing...