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2005 Lemelson-MIT Prize Winner
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| Photo by Ross Hamilton |
Elwood “Woody” Norris began his training in electronics
by repairing broken radios as a child and learning all he could about
the field. A classic independent inventor, Norris is self-educated,
self-funded and self-motivated. With inventions spanning fields from
acoustics to aviation to medicine, Norris is positioned to revolutionize
technology with his HyperSonic Sound (HSS®) invention and AirScooter®.
For these achievements he has been named the 2005 winner of the $500,000
Lemelson-MIT Prize.
Devoid of a woofer and tweeter, Norris’ HSS system consists
of an emitter measuring as little as one-sixteenth of an inch thick,
digital processor and amplfier. Designed to control the direction
of sound emitted, HSS is focused like a laser beam. When aimed directly
at a listener it has the effect of wearing headphones, almost like
a voice inside one’s head. It projects high-frequency sound
in the air, which produces ultrasonic waves that can also be made
to bounce off walls or other objects, unlike conventional speakers
which are larger and typically require a box. The sound is clearer
and remains at the same level for all listeners over great distances,
since it does not radiate in all directions like a conventional
speaker. HSS is already being used for targeted messaging and capturing
customer attention with sound, with additional applications targeted
for the future, such as surround sound in home theaters. A side
benefit of HSS is that people can move aside from the sound beam
if they don’t want to listen.
Norris has taken to flight with his latest brainchild, the AirScooter
(still being fine-tuned). Mostly computer operated with handlebar
assistance, this personal transportation vehicle weighs just over
250 pounds and does not require a license to fly; it can be mastered
in a weekend. The AirScooter has two counter-rotating blades and
two pontoons, and his company plans to offer an optional GPS navigational
system in the future. While originally envisioned for recreational
users, it has also sparked the interest of law enforcement officials
and general commuters.
Inspired by Doppler radar, Norris in 1967 created a sonar tool
to isolate different movements inside the human body. This Transcutaneous
Doppler system, which sends ultrasound through the skin, was designed
to listen to targeted sounds, and was a precursor to the sonogram.
In the mid-1980s, Norris created a hands-free ear-mounted speaker/microphone
device operating on the principle that sound travels through the
bones in a persons head. The device was designed at the request
of NASA, as a replacement for the built-in microphone in helmets
used by astronauts. A commercial version, produced by JABRA Corporation,
is now the most popular cell phone headset, with sales estimated
in excess of one hundred million per year.
Another invention by Norris is Flashback® the first handheld
recording and playback device that eliminated audio-tape. It uses
non-volatile flash memory and is totally solid state—no moving
parts.
Norris, who grew up in Cumberland, Md., attributes some of his
success to his high school drama group which developed his public
speaking and confidence and even earned him a national thespian
award. Norris has garnered 47 U.S. patents, several of which are
harnessed in his company American Technology Corporation. Devoted
to inspiring kids, he continues to speak at schools, while working
on his inventions.
Web Links:
Woody Norris' personal site
American Technology Corporation
AirScooter Corporation
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