Sonare Technologies / A Herman Miller Company Introduces Babble, Voice Privacy Without Walls

Sonare Technologies / A Herman Miller Company is debuting Babble, a breakthrough
technology that provides voice confi dentiality and security of information in open-plan work
environments. The sound management tool will be launched at NeoCon 2005 at Chicago’s
Merchandise Mart this June.
It represents the first wave of innovation to emerge from the Herman Miller Creative Office.
Working with Applied Minds, Inc., and other collaboration partners, the Creative Office has
developed and acquired a portfolio of sound and acoustics patents and is commercializing
them through Sonare Technologies, based in Chicago. Bill DeKruif, who has a wealth of
experience with technology-intensive companies such as Motorola and Dell, is president of
Sonare Technologies.
“Babble is the first, true voice privacy device with powerful application in open spaces,”
said DeKruif. “It is a profound and proprietary technology that can be used either as
a stand-alone solution or as part of a layered approach to sound management. Sound
masking, or ‘white noise’ technology, complements our new technology by diluting overall
interior sound, while Babble provides voice privacy in the area immediately
surrounding the user.”
DeKruif explained that Babble provides true voice confi dentiality by rearranging the
phonemes of your voice and transmitting, in real time, with your spoken voice.
“In essence, Babble turns you into a small crowd—and changes how other people hear your
voice,” he added. “The result is that those outside your workspace cannot understand your
actual spoken words.”
Babble is a desktop device that connects to the telephone and sends the user’s voice out
in multiplied and “babbled” form through proprietary speakers arranged in the work area.
It achieves confi dentiality without distracting the user of the device, and those in the user’s
immediate area hear what sounds like an indiscernible, low-volume group conversation.
The benefi ts of Babble go beyond the critical requirement of safeguarding information.
It also contributes to increased productivity, allowing the user to have confidential
telephone conversations at his or her workstation, where their computer and files
are located.
“We know that open plan offices offer tangible benefi ts in terms of access, communication
and collaboration, as well as cost effi ciencies, but until now voice privacy has been
viewed as a necessary tradeoff. However, traditional walled offi ces are frequently not
practical, affordable or even completely effective when it comes to protecting confidential
information,” noted DeKruif. “Babble has rich implications for the offi ce and
healthcare spaces.”
In keeping with parent company Herman Miller’s emphasis on both aesthetics and
functionality in design, as well as sustainability, DeKruif shared that Babble’s physical form
was a major consideration. “Unlike much of what has been introduced as personal
technology, I knew Babble couldn’t be just another gray box. Working with the industrial
design fi rm, Insight Product Development, we believe we’ve created an attractive addition
to the personal workspace. Babble’s controls, functional LED lighting, and overall
appearance enhance the user experience, all in a very small footprint. We also chose
low-emission plastics and recyclable materials that better serve the environment.”
The product will be offered at a retail price of $395 for the desktop device and two sets
of speakers, and can be purchased initially through select Herman Miller contract offi ce
dealers, as well as direct through Sonare’s website, www.sonaretechnologies.com.
About Sonare Technologies
Sonare Technologies, a Herman Miller company, researches, designs, and manufactures
sound and acoustics solutions for speech privacy, facility sound management, and
interior design. By combining expertise and technology to meet the challenging demands
of customers, Sonare Technologies enables unique and breakthrough solutions for
managing sound and communications. Founded in 2005, Sonare began operations
with the launch of Babble, the fi rst, true voice privacy device for open spaces.
For additional information visit www.sonaretechnologies.com.
About Herman Miller, Inc.
Herman Miller helps create great places to work, heal, learn, and live by researching,
designing, manufacturing, and distributing innovative interior solutions that support
companies, organizations, and individuals all over the world. The company’s
award-winning products, complemented by furniture-management and strategic
consulting services, generated $1.34 billion in revenue during fi scal 2004.
Herman Miller is widely recognized both for its innovative products and business
practices. In fiscal 2004 Herman Miller was named recipient of the prestigious
National Design Award for product design from the Smithsonian Institution’s
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. In 2005 the company was again included
in Business Ethics magazine’s “100 Best Corporate Citizens” and was cited by
Fortune magazine as the “Most Admired” company in its industry. The company
trades on the NASDAQ market under the symbol MLHR. For additional information
visit www.HermanMiller.com.