The fleXpeaker is the invention of Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) – a non-profit organisation. It won the Consumer Electronics Award 2009 for finding a way to create arrays if tiny speakers that can be combined to produce high-fidelity speaker systems.
However, it is just one millimetre thick, can be bent and made from a variety of materials. According to the ITRI, it is light-weight and saves electricity.
Chen Ming-tao, head of the research team at the Institute, told the German Press Agency, DPA: "It is an array of micro cells which can be made with various materials, like paper, plastic, transparent plastic and metal. “
"There is a wide range of uses for it as the fleXpeaker can be rolled out like we print newspaper and its size can be cut to different sizes, even to one or two kilometres long."
The Consumer Electronics award is one of the 16 Technology Innovation Awards awarded each year by the Wall Street Journal.
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Date Published: October 19, 2009
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