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| inTension | ||
|---|---|---|
| Author(s): | Michael Horan Makiko Saito |
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| Instructor: | Moeslinger, Sigi | |
| Class: | Designing for the Five Senses | |
| URL: | http://www.makomoo.com/ITP/5senses/project04.html | |
| Documents: | inTension(GIF) | |
| Keywords: | MIDI, Interactive, Installation, Environment, Music | |
| inTension is an interactive sound environment | ||
| Offering users the ability to explore sound and performance with their entire body, inTension is a unique interactive environment, utilizing playful engagement and performance. | ||
| Background: | inTension was conceptualized as an object that utilizes interactivity's potential for playful engagement and performance. We wanted to address the social quality of music, and create an installation that would allow multiple users to 'perform' together. Our criteria was to create something visually compelling, sonically musical and physically durable. | |
| Audience: | inTension is designed for those with an interest in sound, sculpture and new interfaces for musical expression. It is both a passive sculpture and an active instrument, ready to be seen from a distance or performed from within. | |
| User Scenario: | The design is such that users can determine their involvement. Inspired by the Golden Ratio, the pattern of the cords allows for a user to passively trigger tones or fully engage the environment in performance. inTension can be played like a traditional stringed instrument or more dynamically, using the body to trigger multiple strings and tones. | |
| Technical System Description: | This version of inTension incorporates 18 bungee cords and piezo sensors stretched between a hood and base. The ultimate plan is to create a much larger version, using 72 cords and sensors but time, money and space limitations required us to scale back. The pattern of the cords evokes the Golden Ratio, the design of the [future] final installation. This iteration measures 2 meters high and 1 meter wide and deep. The base of inTension holds the sensing mechanisms and the microcontroller, which sends MIDI data to Max/MSP that sonifies the user's pluck. The hood houses an integrated speaker, allowing for the user to receive maximal audio feedback. | |
| Project References, Research and Literature: | Inspired by Christian Moeller's A Time and Place (http://www.christian-moeller.com/display.php?project_id=37), Squid Labs' Tensegrity Sculpture (http://www.squid-labs.com/projects/art.html) and children's rubber band instruments. | |
| Conclusions: | Large-scale installations are difficult to design without a place to put it! Our real challenge was creating a scaled version that embodied the intention of concept. | |