New fabric speakers use flexible electronics to be thin, light, and flexible — AIST Japan’s latest breakthrough; audiophile ready, or only suitable for cloth ears?

A Japanese startup has announced that it has developed a portable fabric speaker which emits sound across its entire surface (machine translation). The device from Sensia Technology relies on flexible electronics, and can facilitate a wide variety of new audio applications and experiences. It is the first practical application of this new thin, light, and flexible fabric technology that was originally developed at Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in…