Silentium, a technology company specializing in noise and audio innovation in Israel, is creating a breakthrough way to enjoy undisturbed audio no matter where the listener is or how loud their surroundings may be.

A better listening experience

The Personal Sound Bubble (PSB) is under development and is said to be a creative alternative to headphones by creating sound separation between listeners wanting to enjoy different audio experiences while in close proximity, i.e. in a car, on a plane or even in the same room watching tv together. The idea is to combine sound wave noise cancellation and audio "sound bubbles" so that each listener can choose what they want to listen to without being distracted by other audio sources playing nearby.

Multiple people attempting to listen to multiple different sources of audio in the car could potentially be a frustrating and overwhelming experience. Using the PSB with existing speakers, the sensors in the system first will learn from one another to detect what sound to play from what speakers, while also emitting noise-canceling waves that are of "identical amplitude but with an inverted phase." Sound zones are created by focusing sound transmission toward the desired zone and dividing output by the layout of the environment with no partitions.

PSB results in focused transmission toward the desired zone while minimizing sound intensity elsewhere. Source: Silentium

Silentium has worked to optimize known issues in noise-canceling by enhancing the software so that it learns from itself. By analyzing the audio in surrounding areas, the noise-cancelation will be able to detect what the track is going to play before it actually happens to avoid lagging or conflicting noise cancelation waves, with up to an impressive 20 dB of acoustic contrast.

Where can the PSB be used?

In the case of car audio, back seat passengers could hear their own sound -- picked on individual devices -- from the door woofers and even speakers in the ceiling without the audio of one overwhelming or drowning out the other. Those in the front seat still enjoy audio from the front sound zone, can still clearly hear GPS navigation and won't worry about all of these different audio sources becoming overwhelming or unsafe while driving a vehicle.

While this technology will undoubtedly change the way car passengers will enjoy audio experiences, the technology doesn't stop there. Using the PSB in places like airplanes or trains can not only offer independent listening zones for wanted audio, but can be utilized to drown out loud engine and wind noise. This is especially helpful for those with traveling-induced anxiety or children, as it dims the sometimes overwhelming noises of plane or train travel. Noisy public areas will no longer be an unavoidable aspect of public presence. Factory workers are also finding relief from loud industrial machinery and audible fatigue.

At-home use can be just as beneficial, as well. The PSB technology can be used for those wanting to spend time with one another but enjoy different shows on different devices. Tv experiences can be tailored to each user by seamlessly integrating with existing devices and creating those independent listening zones without requiring headphones. Using it for entertainment isn't the system's limitation, though; loud home appliance noises can be minimized with the noise-canceling technology. The possibilities are virtually endless and could even be used creatively to enjoy audio in a PSB without jeopardizing others in the house who have gone to bed or need quiet.

A mission for better wellness

The Silentium PSB system offers a wide range of enhanced audio experiences without the need for headphones or competing listening events. Silentium creates solutions to enhance wellness and personal space. The PSB is expected to hit the market within the next two years.