Japanese company turns flowers into speakers (PIC)

Let's Corp, a Nagoya-based telecommunications-equipment company, has developed and manufactured the Ka-on, a Japanese gadget that turns flowers into audio speakers.

The Ka-on, which means 'flower sound' in Japanese, consists of a donut-shaped magnet and coil at the base of a vase that hooks up to a CD player, stereo or TV.

Place the flowers in the vase, turn on the gadget, and the magnet and coil relay the sound vibrations up the stems through the plant's water tubes, making the petals and leaves tremble with good vibrations.

Bring your ear near a flower, and hear the music emanate from the petals like a decorative earphone. Touch a leaf, and feel it shake as though in a quiet dance.

Later this month, customers will be able to carry on a telephone conversation with a flower using a planned speaker phone model.

Unlike regular speakers, which send sound in one direction, Ka-on shoots sound in all directions, filling an entire room with music in a more natural ambience.

Mr Masumi Gotoh, president of Let's Corp, said the set up is ideal as gifts, flower table-arrangements at weddings, reception desks at hospitals, and decoration at restaurants. Ka-on vases and amplifiers come in various sizes, ranging in price from 5,000 yen ($45) to 50,000 yen.

There's a version that works with potted plants, and a wireless LAN version will be available soon in Japan.

Not only does Ka-on deliver flowery music, it also keeps bugs off plants and helps cut flowers last longer, according to Mr Gotoh.

Mr Gotoh said: 'Gerberas and sunflowers work especially well as speakers.'

Flower speakers are kinder on the ears than regular speakers and suited for the elderly, he claimed.

About 3,000 of the 5,000 yen version - on sale via the Internet since July - have been sold. Some 10,000 orders have been received so far.

A poinsettia Ka-on will go on sale ahead of Christmas. Ka-on is also being used for concerts. Several Ka-on were planted near a bamboo grove to play music at a recent event in Japan. - AP.

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