Here’s a glimpse of the future. At McDonald’s there is a TV playing. Those who are sitting on designated seats can hear whatever is on. Everyone else in the room hears nothing.
When combined with technology like Microsoft’s Kinect, inanimate objects can appear to make their own sound, either when you come within range or when you interact with it.
Your finger touches the door bell. The chime is directed at you and whoever is in the house. But not to dogs. The dogs don’t go crazy because someone is at the door.
The HyperSound System is currently being used commercially in museums and retailers to provide a spotlight of sound, where passersby can only hear the audio commentary being played when standing in the right space.
Source: The Guardian
Yes, it is real and being used already!
How will this affect Cloakers?
- Secret communications. You know the classic situation where secret agents meet on a park bench and pretend to not be having a conversation? In the future just sitting on that park bench and making a subtle but unique gesture could trigger directional speakers to relay a message.
- Misdirection. At an airport you hear that your boarding gate has changed. The think is, only you heard the announcement. That boarding gate is a trap.
- Proof. Recording equipment won’t be able to prove what was communicated, unless they are situated really close to the aural recipient.
- Beneficial. Instead of wearing headphones, the music is beamed at you.
Basically you will no longer be able to trust what you hear, and will no longer know what people nearby are hearing. Just like no two Google search results are the same these days (due to personalisation), all real world aural experiences have the potential to be unique.
