SONARIOS: A Design Futuring-Driven Exploration of Acoustophoresis

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, here 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 these insights into three strong design concepts combining senses for cohesive experiences, enabling one sense to enhance or substitute another, and designing interactions that adapt to how people move through space, bridging speculative exploration with practical design possibilities. We emphasize the importance of balancing desirability, feasibility, and responsibility in acoustophoresis development, advocating for a design approach that integrates both technical innovation and user-centred design considerations.