# Hotspot-Seeking Speakers These High-Volume Speakers Focus Sound To Specific Areas By Rahul Kalvapalle | Published 2014-11-14 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/highvolume-speaker References: [gizmag](http://www.gizmag.com/acoustic-line-array-tv-audio/34749/) & [southampton.ac.uk](http://www.southampton.ac.uk/mediacentre/news/2014/nov/14_204.shtml) Marcos Simon, a PhD candidate at the [University of Southampton](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/audio-robot), has developed a high-volume speaker system that is capable of projecting high-volume audio to specific spots in a room. If you've ever been in a situation where you're watching TV with a group of people and one of them likes to have it turned up really loud, you'll know how this kind of invention might be useful. These high-volume speakers are actually designed keeping in mind senior citizens who suffer from hearing loss. The system consists of an [array of eight loudspeakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/immersive-audio-system) arranged in a line -- a line array -- that can focus hot spots of sound to specific areas. In tests, the array was shown to increase partially def people's ability to understand played-back human speech by 30% without disturbing non-deaf people seated nearby. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.4/10 - Popularity: 15% | Activity: 20% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Gadgets](https://www.trendhunter.com/gadgets) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **High-volume Speaker Systems:** Opportunity for disrupting the audio industry by developing speakers that can project high-volume audio to specific spots in a room. - **Targeted Sound Technology:** Opportunity to innovate in the audio technology sector by creating systems that can focus sound to specific areas, improving the listening experience for individuals with hearing loss. - **Assistive Audio Solutions:** Opportunity to provide innovative solutions for senior citizens with hearing loss, such as the development of high-volume speakers designed to enhance their ability to understand speech. ### Who This Affects Most - **Audio Equipment:** Disruptive innovation opportunity in the audio equipment industry through the development of high-volume speakers that can project sound to specific spots. - **Healthcare Technology:** Opportunity to disrupt the healthcare technology industry by creating targeted sound systems that can assist individuals with hearing loss. - **Assistive Technology:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the assistive technology sector by developing assistive audio solutions for individuals with hearing impairments, particularly senior citizens. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [See-Through Private Listening Speakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/glass-directional-speaker.md) - [Transparent Loudspeaker Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/loudspeaker-system.md) - [Clear-Frame Directional Speakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/focusound.md) - [Targeted Audio Wave Speakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zipp-speaker-concept.md) - [Portable Surround Sound Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/htax7.md) - [Portable Theater Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sony-htax7.md) - [Dynamic Home Audio Speakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sounds-speaker.md) - [Ludicrously Loud Bluetooth Speakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/loud-bluetooth-speaker.md) - [Portable Wireless Sound Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plus-minus-zero.md)