Design futuring study uncovers multimodal interaction scenarios using acoustophoresis, suggesting a need to balance technical feasibility with user desirability and responsibility.
Sound waves shape not only our ability to hear but also offer new ways to interact with and experience our environment. Acoustophoresis, a method of manipulating objects using the mechanical energy of sound, enables multimodal displays incorporating touch, taste, vision, and more. While current research has focused on technical advancements, we explore acoustophoresis and its applications through a design-driven lens. We conducted a design futuring workshop, speculating on possible applications, and identified six key themes. Based on these insights, we developed two speculative scenarios, SONARIOS, that illustrate future experiences shaped by acoustophoresis. We abstracted the insights into three strong design concepts that bridge speculative exploration with practical design. We emphasize the importance of balancing desirability, feasibility, and responsibility in acoustophoresis development, advocating for a design approach that integrates technical innovation with user-centred considerations.
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Beşevli et al. (2025) studied this question.
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