Pet sounds is an attempt to create an open platform for ritual and ceremony. In modern society, and particularly North America, we have fewer rites of passage, religious experiences, and traditional ceremonies than ever before. Pet sounds is an experiment with the goal of creating a dynamic (not generic) tool set to explore who we are and where we are going.

Some key questions - As we become more embedded into our technology, and vice versa, are we becoming more or less human? What role will tradition and ritual play in a world without boundaries - where everything is in process. Will we be able to keep the positive parts of religion while leaving behind the problematic aspects, and how will this inform our future as humanity?

Pet Sounds is a tiny first step - providing masks and a voice modulation system to allow users to follow a scripted interaction or make up their own two-person ritual. Are these masks fun toys, creepy art projects, Avant-garde performance wear, or something else?

User Scenario
Two people are wearing the masks. A dark place. Lots of candles. A very loud sounds system.

Implementation
FM transmitters, accelerometers + XBees in the masks. ChucK for the sound. OF for the visuals.