Sensia Technology, a Japan-based startup, has announced the development of a portable fabric speaker built on flexible electronics that emits sound from its entire surface. This innovative device enables a whole new audio experience and a variety of applications.

Fabric Speaker Unveiled

This technology is actually the first practical application of thin, lightweight, and flexible fabric technology developed at Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in 2018.

The basis of this new product, called “Fabric Speaker Portable,” lies in its ability to emit sound from the entire fabric surface. This is possible because the speaker is woven from conductive, flexible fibers with a capacitor-like structure. These types of electrostatic speakers work on the principle of creating a large, thin capacitor by combining two conductive layers separated by a thin dielectric film.

Information provided about the product’s sound level potential indicates that the device can produce sound up to 68 dB. The 71 dB sound level achievable by using both together is close to the noise level of a nearby vacuum cleaner or a washing machine running in spin mode.

This indicates that the device can be used not only for personal listening but also for ambient sound production. Sensia Technology notes that thanks to its soft and thin fabric structure, the device can be used like a wall-mounted rug or placed under a pillow or sheet for listening to relaxing music.