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Wednesday
August 4, 2004

2:30 PM

111 111

Bloom Box

Flowers on the table can now do more than set the mood - they can play the mood music. A new sound system from Japan uses flowers to emit sound through leaves and petals. Still in the experimental phase, the speakers' sound can be altered by the size and type of flower placed in its acrylic base, and the jury's still out on whether orchids or foxgloves kick out the biggest base.

Comments

Don't musical flowers appear in several jg ballard short stories?

And then I said …
Stu
  • Monday August 9, 2004 8:35 AM
  • Stu

You're right, Stu. I just found this tidbit:
[In Ballard's first short story in 1956] ...the subject is musical flowers, particularly orchids. Set in an undisclosed future year, the tale is recounted by the owner of a record shop. But the music he sells isn't vinyl or tape or CDs. It's blossoms. A particular species of orchid has been discovered that pollinates itself by attracting spiders into its flower by emitting a certain frequency. After being harvested and cultivated, cross-bred and nurtured, the 'arachnid orchid' has become a virtual orchestra. In fact, when in a 'vicious mood' it can annoy all the neighbourhood dogs by squealing out ultra-sonics and even fracture its tank by resonating.
Here's the source.

And then I said …
Jon Parker
  • Monday August 9, 2004 10:45 AM
  • Jon Parker
  • Veer Community Team

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