Disney has developed a device capable of transmitting sound through the human body, which could lead to the development of revolutionary ways for attractions to interact with their visitors.

The Ishin-Den-Shin technology, developed at Disney Research in Pittsburgh, uses a microphone to record audio and is then able to convert it into inaudible signals which travel through the body of the person holding the microphone.

When this person touches someone else’s earlobe, the sound becomes audible to the receiver of the touch, allowing the original sender to effectively whisper messages without having to speak directly to the person.

The technology works using a device fitted to a standard microphone, which then creates a modulated electrostatic field around the user’s skin. Once the user touches somebody’s earlobe, the electrostatic field creates a small vibration on the lobe, allowing both the finger and the ear to form a speaker together, making the signal audible to the person who is being touched, but only through the receiving ear.

Other companies have made use of the body being able to receive conduction. For example, bone conduction is currently being used to transmit sound to the inner ear via bones of the skull by Google for its Google Glass product. Bone conduction is also used in a number of leading headphone and earphone sets.

More information on the Ishin-Den-Shin technology, including a demonstration video and scientific sketches, is available here: http://lei.sr?a=F1E6a