Please excuse and lambaste me if this story is inappropriate for this board:
http://news1.iwon.com/odd/article/id/416049|oddlyenough|07-2 0-2004::08:52|reuters.html
Flower Power Gadget Turns Plants Into Amplifiers
Jul 20, 8:48 am ET
TOKYO (Reuters) - People who like talking to their plants can now enjoy a musical accompaniment, thanks to a Japanese invention that turns petals and leaves into amplifiers.
Called the "Flower Speaker Amplifiers," the gadget made by Let's Corp is hidden in a vase or a potted plant and sends music at just the right frequency to vibrate up the stems and then be converted into audible sound by the plant as a whole.
A device such as a CD player or radio can be connected to it.
"Anywhere where you would want music naturally integrated with a natural surrounding," said Hirohiko Okugawa, a manager at Let's, referring to locations for the device, which he expects it to be popular for hotels and hospital lobbies.
The inventor of the gadget, Keiji Koga, said: "We are finally able to experience plants and flowers with all five of our natural senses."
The firm expects to begin selling the speakers by mid-August for 5,000 yen ($46) to 50,000 yen depending on the plant's size.
And according to Koga, music is also good for the plants, which are invigorated by the constant musical vibes.These seem like a good idea for corporate gigs where the visual aspect is so crucial. The Lensic theater in Santa Fe, NM has a setup where they have lots of small speakers throughout the venue as opposed to a stage-living P.A. The house system is used mostly for theater though. They still bring in a P.A. for musical acts.
Accel Corral.