Bose patent app sees electroacoustical transducers in our chairs

While finding hidden speakers tucked neatly away in one's headrest, rocking chair, or gaming seat isn't exactly surprising, Bose is hoping to integrate the technology one step further by getting "surround sound" into practically every seat imaginable. According to a patent application filed by the company, it's hoping to develop an audio system that includes an "electroacoustical transducer mounted in the back of a seat" so that surround sound is radiated and focused around the ears of the listener. Obviously, said technology could be placed into cars, recliners, office chairs, and beach loungers with relative ease, and while musical entertainment is clearly the primary candidate for use in such a system, the filing also mentions possible telephone integration. Unsurprisingly, Bose didn't mention any details surrounding RMS ratings, frequency ranges, or driver sizes.

[Via Wired]

[JoeBob @ May 24th 2007 12:27AM]

A patent? Didn't I have this in my 1984 Pontiac Fiero?

Damn, I miss that car...

[drtekger @ May 24th 2007 1:23AM]

wow, mr. bose himself. didn't know he's a bald guy hehe.

[Sean @ May 24th 2007 2:09AM]

No treble, No bass, must be Bose!

[paloooz @ May 24th 2007 2:11AM]

Wow, you totally thrashed that phrase. You must mean:

"No highs? No lows? My be Bose!"

[paloooz @ May 24th 2007 2:12AM]

Crap, lol.

Must be Bose...

Whatever, point is it's supposed to rhyme! No highs, no lows, must be Bose.

[Sean @ May 24th 2007 3:02AM]

Yeah, sorry. Haven't heard it in a while and the Guinness was delicious earlier (as always).

[Grizz @ May 24th 2007 8:21AM]

They are not patenting "Speakers in a headrest" they are patenting a special part of sorround sound into a headrest. You can put speakers in your headrest all you want. Also looking into the patent it is also cell phone speaker as well. That would be nice so driver and passenger could use hands free cell at the same time.

And you probably should own better speakers before saying that phrase, I doubt you could tell the difference anyway.

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ May 24th 2007 8:57AM]

Bose now stands for:

Buy
Other
Seating
Equipment

[Pip @ May 24th 2007 9:24AM]

Probably wont be put into cars these days as it'll be a distraction. Most insurance companies and laws are all heading to zero distraction driving laws.

[Canizorro @ May 24th 2007 9:25AM]

Came across this article and had to give a comment. This looks like the technology used in my companies new line of slot machine games. WMS has a contract with Bose and the new Top Gun game has 3-D audio including a "Bose Chair" with speakers and a sub mounted into the players seat. www.wms.com if you care to take a look.

[Darnell @ May 24th 2007 10:06AM]

Yeeesh. That's one crappy illustration. Hey Bose if you're reading this. I'm available to draw something up. I'll give you a fair price.

[Richard @ May 24th 2007 1:29PM]

I have a Loftgoods chair like this in my room. Transducer in the base, two speakers in the headrest, and a comfy matching ottoman for my feet :)

[jdang307 @ May 24th 2007 6:11PM]

"And you probably should own better speakers before saying that phrase, I doubt you could tell the difference anyway."

It doesn't take much to have better speakers and YES, you can tell the difference. Better speakers are much cheaper. You cannot accurately reproduce the broad range of sounds from one small speaker, and bose effectively kills the high and the low, as stated earlier.

How about a quick test - go to your local big chain speaker store, and ask them if you could drag some speakers over to the Bose Display for an A/B comparison. Unless you find a rep who doesn't follow rules, they won't let you because Bose won't let them.

[Michael @ May 24th 2007 11:09PM]

w00t! now we get to have Bose's inefficiently sized cheap paper cones in our chairs too!