Articles

Wearable Speakers! Explaining the Innovative Technology "Fabric Speaker" by AIST

2023.04.19

The evolution of acoustic systems is remarkable. The advent of noise-canceling earphones, bone conduction earphones, and soundbars has provided us with completely new musical experiences. One might think there's no further technological advancement left. Such thoughts may even cross your mind.

But rest assured, there's a new type of speaker that will dispel those doubts. That is the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) where Manabu Yoshida is researching the "Fabric Speaker." As the name suggests, it emits sound from fabric, making a world that seemed like science fiction a reality.

This time, we asked Manabu Yoshida about the outline of the "Fabric Speaker" research project.

PROFILE

Manabu Yoshida

1999/4-2001/3 – Special Research Fellow at Japan Science and Technology Agency's Core Research for Evolutionary Science and Technology (CREST)

2001/4-2009/9 – Researcher with a fixed-term contract at the Optical Technology Research Division of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)

2009/9-2012/6 – Senior Researcher at the Flexible Electronics Research Center of AIST

2012/7-2013/6 – Senior Researcher at the Electronics, Materials, and Nanotechnology Department of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)

2013/7-Present – Current position

2017/10-Present – Concurrently serving as a cooperating professor at Saitama University Graduate School

From Sensing Research to Pursuit of a New Speaker

What kind of research institution is AIST?

AIST is one of only three specific National Research and Development Agencies in Japan. It has its headquarters in Tokyo and Tsukuba, and 12 research bases nationwide. A notable feature is its emphasis on joint research with industry, collaboration with private enterprises, universities, and public institutions.

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