Revised Project Description – Musical Finger/Glove

Musical Finger/Glove
We have revised our original project, (the emotion-detecting GSR sensor display project). We now propose to create a tone “finger/ glove, possibly even a truly musical “finger”/glove.

[In a brief test, we implemented a flex sensor on an Arduino board, in a recreation of the tone lab, and got it functioning and producing Arduino basic tone. However, we did not use it to modulate pitch, only on/off states and have not attached it to a finger or a glove yet.]

Below you will find “minimum” and “maximum” project descriptions. We may start with the “minimum” and elaborate on it or start with the “minimum” and proceed to the maximum.

“Minimum”
As a proof-of-concept/test, we will create a four-finger version. This version will employ a flex sensor or pressure sensor on the finger itself, and will turn on and off a tone output through the arduino, an arduino program controlling the tone output, and standard wiring. Each finger will have a predetermined pitch.

Pressure sensors probably make more sense, however, for on/off states, than flex sensors. A third possible variant in the “minimum” project could be the use of midi output through the use of a Arduino midi library.

This could be expanded to two hands (4 tones each for an octave), enabling “piano-playing” using both hands and the tones of the Arduino tone library, with each tone of the scale assigned to one of the fingers to which are attached flex sensors or pressure sensors activated by downward pressure.

 

Please note: Arduino model pictured is not the “Uno”–just the Arduino graphic I could find most quickly.

“Maximum”
A flex sensor would be attached to a finger, and a pressure sensor on a second finger.
The pressure sensor would modulate the dynamics, and the flex sensor would modulate pitch.

Both would be attached to a midi output via wires, and could either be rigged in an over-the-finger arrangement, or attached to cotton/nylon gloves or surgical gloves.

Using midi output (via a midi library, setup, etc.) would provide better tone quality, however, we could also use the Arduino tone libraries in a test version of this “maximum.”

The volume of this arrangement could be modified by turning a potentiometer using the other hand.

This “maximum” version of the project is a two-finger musical instrument (3 or 4-fingers, depending on how many would be used to turn the potentiometer).

Please note: Arduino model pictured is not the “Uno”–just the Arduino graphic I could find most quickly.

Bill of Materials

Arduino “Uno” – have 2

Wiring – have

Pressure sensors – 5 – Approx $2 – Have four, need 2more

Flex sensors – 5-8 (@$12.00) – $72.00 Have 2, need 6 more (cost dependent on source)

Cotton/nylon gloves – 1 – $10.00

Surgical gloves – 10 pair – $10.00 – Possibly available free on floor

Optional Lilypad – 1 – $30.00

Optional conductive thread – As needed – Possibly available on floor

Speaker – 1 – Have/scavenge

Grand Total: $124.00

Project Timing
We have 48 hours between Thursday Oct.25 and Tuesday, Oct. 30, figuring 8 hours each day, including Saturday and Sunday. Because there are two of us, we could figure 96 hours are available in which to complete this project.

However, there are other commitments, so I will estimate 4 hours a day to be spent on the project, between Thursday and Tuesday. This leaves 48 hours between the two group members to work on the project. This is a rough schedule—availability has not yet been confirmed.

Thursday 10/25: Get “Minimum” working with one finger: pressure sensor controlling Arduino tone; flex sensor on one finger controlling on finger, controlling tones. 3 hours. Test 1 hour.

Friday 10/26: Setup midi library and wiring. Rig flex sensor and pressure sensor to glove/finger and Arduino. Test interface. 4 hours

Saturday 10/27: Minimum—attach multiple flex sensors to glove. Use lilypad if necessary, otherwise, Arduino.
Maximum—create program to enable (1) better tone quality utlilizing midi library and (2) modulate tone of flex sensor(s). 4 hours

Sunday 10/28: Test either minimum or maximum and document results. Continue working if not finished. 4 hours.

Monday 10/29: Test either minimum or maximum and document results. Continue working if not finished. 4 hours.

Tuesday 10/30: Final testing/tweaking for Maximum or Minimum solution.
Working demo must be solid.

Testing
Testing will consist of attempts to play tunes using, first, the finger version of the project, then the glove version.