The extremely narrow beams of sound generated by the Audio Spotlight sound system are featured in a unique exhibit that gives a glimpse of what the near-future of television will hold. "We've built, in effect, a television system that can offer three viewers completely different content simultaneously, and when they're standing right next to each other," says Dr. F. Joseph Pompei, the inventor of the system. The Audio Spotlight audio technology allows, for the first time, sound to be controlled in the same ways we're used to controlling light, providing several people in the same physical space radically different audio content.

To demonstrate the technology, Professor Barry Vercoe, Dr. Pompei's research advisor at MIT, conceived an artistic installation. As visitors approach the exhibit, they see and hear a jazz quartet playing "Summertime," from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess. Three thin, light Audio Spotlight discs, mounted on a wall above the display, are aimed at slightly different angles, each one beaming the sound of a single soloist to adjacent listeners on the floor. A special holographic video screen, developed by colleagues also at MIT, creates a "directional video" display that changes its content depending on the viewing angle. Combining these two technologies effectively creates a television that can provide three completely distinct programs to three viewers at the same time. Standing in one position allows you to see and hear only the trumpet - taking one step over, the trumpet vanishes, and the vocalist alone appears. Taking one more step eliminates all but the violin player. The quartet's rhythm section is displayed on a traditional television set, and played through regular loudspeakers, so it is seen and heard everywhere.

Dr. Pompei will also be speaking about his invention, and the exhibit, at the Museum of Science's Technology Day on October 18th.

The mission of the Museum of Science is to stimulate interest in and further understanding of science and technology and their importance for individuals and society. Now over 170 years old, the Museum of Science is one of the world's premiere science museums, attracting over 1.6 million people per year. The Museum has remained on the cutting edge of science education by developing innovative and interactive exhibits and programs that both entertain and educate.

Invented by Dr. F. Joseph Pompei while a graduate student at MIT, the Audio Spotlight is the first and only system in the world that can make high-quality sound travel in narrow, focused beams, just like light. Several other groups have attempted to copy the Audio Spotlight, and claim credit for its invention, but no other system in the world has the sound quality and reliability suitable for actual, real-world use.

The Audio Spotlight sound system, developed and manufactured by Holosonics, is currently installed and used around the world for museums, trade shows, exhibitions, and special effects, and will soon be available for consumer applications. Companies such as Motorola, Time-Warner, DaimlerChrysler, Kraft Foods, Sega, and American Greetings have chosen the Audio Spotlight, and Audio Spotlight systems have been installed in venues such as the Boston Center for the Arts, the Matisse Museum, Sega's Joypolis, Bibliotheque National de France, the European PGA tour, and the Chicago Cultural Center.

About Holosonic Research Labs, Inc.

Holosonic Research Labs, Inc., a pioneer in directional acoustics, develops and manufactures the Audio Spotlight® directional sound system. Founded in 1999 by MIT graduate Dr. F. Joseph Pompei, Holosonics' Audio Spotlight technology is used in a wide variety of applications including museums, libraries, offices, reception areas, retail displays, trade shows and retail kiosks. The world's top organizations and companies such as Cisco, Motorola, the Smithsonian Institute, the Tate Modern and Time-Warner use the Audio Spotlight directional sound system to beam sound to their listeners... and preserve the quiet.™

Press inquiries: press@holosonics.com