Cargo for Nomads

Design research and proposal for a senior capstone project

by Joshua Lindman

http://lindmancargo.wordpress.com

Prototyping new states for work and travel

Industrial Design Program http://www.id-uarts.org

School for Design College of Art, Media, and Design

© 2012

University of the Arts320 South Broad StreetPhiladelphia PA 19102

http://uarts.edu

A final deliverable for IDES 431 Design Theory + CapPrep - Fall 2012

coordinated by Jason Lempieri and Jonas Milder

by Ryan Hyde

http://ryanalanhyde.wordpress.com

Gestural SensitivityExploring the sense of touch through negative space

Table of Contents:Point of Entry: pgs. 3-4

Survey: 5-9

Synthesis: 10-11

Research: 12-21

Intention: 22-23

Sources: 24

I wish to explore the world of tactile response from a negative space perspective. By that I mean I want to explore how to create a haptic experience when there is really nothing physical to react with.

I began this project looking through the lens of a musician. I noticed that even though digital technology has given modern instruments an incredible amount of tonal versatility, it has not really had much effect on the physical connection we have with our modern instruments.

Modern Keyboard with plastic keys and modulation wheels

Digital wind Instrument with metal keys and accelerometer

Point of entry:

Icomposedasurveytofindoutwhatpeoplesthoughtson the strengths and weaknesses of physical and digital instruments. The survey also explored what they might like to see in a new instrument that crossed the line between both.

1. Musician survey: Physical VS Digital

2. What Instrument do you play?

3. How many years have you been a musician?

4. What kind of musical styles do you listen to most?

5. What three instruments would you most like to learn?

6. What instrument do you believe has the most tonal versatility?

7. What instrument do you think is easiest to physically play?

8. What kind of technology do you think could make your instrument more versatile?

9. Are you interested in digital/electronic instruments?

10. In your opinion, what are the strengths of electronic instruments?

11. In your opinion, what are the weaknesses?

12. In your opinion, what are the strengths or analog instruments?

13. In your opinion, what are the weaknesses?

14. Would you be interested in a digital version of your current instrument(s)?

NOTE: By Physical I am talking about instruments that generate sound using their inherent physical properties. I.E. Guitars (acoustic and electric), brass, woodwinds, Strings, ETC.

You can send these back to me through my email or facebook

EMAIL:ryanahyde@gmail.com

F.B.www.facebook.com/ryanalanhyde

Kevin Bendis: Guitar and Synth, 8 Yrs playing

In your opinion, what are the strengths of electronic instruments?

“Electronic Instruments are almost limitless with their versatility and capacity to shift tone and sound.”

In your opinion, what are the weaknesses of Digital instruments?

“Electronic instruments can often come off as inauthentic or shallow sounding.”

In your opinion, what are the strengths of physical instruments?

“Physical instruments have a much more raw, or warm sound..speaking generally. The connection between the human player and the physical instrument is more interactive and that can often translate in a recording or live performance.”

In your opinion, what are the weaknesses of physical instruments?

“Physicalinstrumentsarelimited,mostofthetime,toonespecificsoundiftheyareunaidedby something like a pedal or amp.”

What kind of technology do you think could make your instrument more versatile?

“Most interesting to me, would be technology integrated into the instrument itself which changes the way you play it. For example, if when I squeeze the neck of my violin it changes the tone of the instrument, I would completely shift my playing style to accommodate that expression.”

In your opinion, what are the strengths of physical instruments?

“Physicality, acoustic complexity, the ability to integrate interesting recording techniques (microphoneposition,physicalmuffling,etc.)…Inmyexperience,electronicsoundsnevercome close to the complexity of an acoustic instrument.”

In your opinion, what are the weaknesses of Digital instruments?

“Staring at a screen; forcing you to work through the computer using a mouse, keyboard, or touch screen; no tactile feedback. Or: having to play every type of synthesized sound through the same keyboard (uninspired). It also takes way longer to settle on a sound when it’s digital, since it could always be better/changed a little bit. There isn’t a best possible sound, as there might be for a piano or guitar.”

Kyle Stetz: Drums, guitar, piano, violin, synthesizers, computer, 13 yrs. playing

In your opinion, what are the strengths of electronic instruments? “Tonal versatility, options, ability to amplify and change the characteristics of the instrument completely.”

In your opinion, what are the weaknesses? “Requires electricity, limited touch sensitivity”

In your opinion, what are the strengths of physical instruments? “Requires just an ability to play. Shows true skill.”

In your opinion, what are the weaknesses? “Limiting at times”

If you play a physical instrument, would you be interested in a digital version of your current instrument(s)?

“Absolutely”

Jono Riechard: Guitar, 13 Yrs. Playing

What kind of technology do you think could make your instrument more versatile?

“pedal technologies could make bass more versatile”

In your opinion, what are the strengths of electronic instruments?

“electronic instruments can use sequencers and programming notes”

In your opinion, what are the weaknesses of Digital instruments?

“weaknesses of digital could be loss of organic sounds”

In your opinion, what are the strengths of physical instruments?

“physical instruments sound more real”

In your opinion, what are the weaknesses of physical instruments?

“weaknesses could be lack of variety in timbre”

If you play a physical instrument, would you be interested in a digital version of your current instrument(s)?

“digitalversionsofmyinstrumentcoulddefinitelyinterestme”

Matt Supnick: Bass guitar, 4 Yrs. Playing

Synthesis:

Physical

Digital

Pros:

Cons:

Pros:

Cons:

More organic / complex tonality

More nuanced performance

Better connection / Sensitivity to player

Limited scope of sounds

Difficulttorecordwell

Tonally versatile

Easy to record

Programmable

Inspireaworkflow

Sound inauthentic / shallow

Less touch sensitive

Uninspiring interface

My Proj

ect

Keywords:Nuance

Organic

Complex

Tonality

Authenticity

Sensitivity

Workflow

Connection

Synthesis:

From my initial interviews I learned that Physical Instruments (instruments that create sound through their inherent physical properties), and Digital instruments (instruments that create sound from synthetic programming). Occupy two spectrums and have opposing strengths and weaknesses.

It became apparent that the strength of one class of instrument was the opposite weakness of the other.

It seems that a musical instrument that is able to combine the Physical and tonal quality of traditional instruments along with the sonic versatility and programmability of digital instruments would be a huge step forward for many musicians.

Research:

I began to research existing instruments that are along the same lines as the instrument I wish to create.

The Akai EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument) Has an accelerometer that senses how hard you are blowing into it.

The Theremin has two proximity sensors that sense the players hands and make corresponding changes in pitch and volume.

Research:

The laser harp uses laser beams to detect the players hands.

The Emulator is a touch screen controller for DJ’s.

Research:

The Air Piano uses infrared proximity sensors to detect the position of the players hands.

The Misa Digitar has a touch screen instead of strings and buttons instead of frets.

What most of these new instruments have in common is the use of sensing technology that gives them a far greater gestural sensitivity than the accepted plastic keyboard of today.

Sensing technology

Akai EWIAir Piano Misa DigitarLaser harp Theremin

Research:

Piano’s make sound by striking a tensioned string with a hammer when a key is depressed.

The key is connected to the hammer through a series of linkages. This connection gives the key a weight and responseandtheresponseofthissystemhasbeenrefinedover hundreds of years to interact perfectly with the hands of the player.

I also did research on how traditional instruments work

Research:

The theremin uses two radio frequency oscillators to generateanaudiosignal.Oneoscillatoroperatesatafixedfrequency. The frequency of the other oscillator is controlled by the performer's distance from the pitch control antenna.

The theremin was originally the product of Russian government-sponsored research into proximity sensors.

Ibegansearchingexistingpatentstofindoutmoreaboutexisting sensing systems.

Patent for the Theremin from 1928 Patent for a motion sensing fingerboard.

Patent for a capacitive guitar.Patent for a capacitive drum sensor.

Research:

Capacitive

Capacitive displacement sensor

Doppler effect (sensor based on effect)

Eddy-current

Inductive

Laserrangefinder

Magnetic, including Magnetic proximity fuse

Passive optical (such as charge-coupled devices)

Passive thermal infrared

Photocell(reflective)

Radar

Reflectionofionisingradiation

Sonar (typically active or passive)

Research:

Types of proximity sensors:

Aproximitysensoroftenemitsanelectromagneticfieldora beam of electromagnetic radiation (infrared, for instance), andlooksforchangesinthefieldorreturnsignal.

Capacitive Proximity Sensors detect all materials, including liquids, powders and metallic and non-metallic solids. These sensors are often used to control the levels of pellets, liquids and powders in production control.

Research:

You can build your own oscillating circuit with coils of wire, or you can use a microprocessor that can read resistance. I chose the microprocessor route because they are much more versatile and are easier to program than conventional circuitry. I have looked at many examples of the technology in use and begun research on how to make my project a reality. So far it seems promising that I will be able to construct the electronics part of my instrument from off the shelf components and some coding.

I began looking at ways to cheaply and easily build a proximity sensor and it seems that there are a good amount of options.

Research:

I Intend to create a musical interface that senses the movementofyourfingertipstothesamedegreeofatraditional instrument, yet has none of the moving parts that make those interfaces so heavy in resources, mass, and volume.

In doing this I will fundamentally change only the nature of

the interface that your hands interact with...

Because the instrument will sense you before you even touch it.

Proposed keyboard interface with individual proximity sensing pads

Intention:

For my proposed prototype, I plan on replacing the system of keys and hammers that a traditional piano contains with individual Radio Frequency sensing pads.

These pads will sense the proximity and velocity of your fingertipsbeforetheyevencomeintocontactwiththeinterface. This information can be used to tell the synthesizer how hard you are playing or to control effects such as pitch modulation or sliding notes. This will give the player the ability to nuance his or her playing far beyond what current synthesizers can offer.

Intention:

Thank you

Publication numb Multi-functional position sensing device having physical pattern layer US20120247308 A1Application number 13/434,857Publication date Oct 4, 2012Filing date Mar 30, 2012Priority date Apr 1, 2011

ThereminPatent number: 1658953Filing date: Dec 5, 1925Issue date: Feb 14, 1928

Capacitive pressure-sensing method and apparatusPublication number EP0286747 A1Publication date Oct 19, 1988Filing date Apr 15, 1987Priority date Apr 15, 1987Also published as EP0286747B1

Electronic fingerboard for stringed instrumentApplication number: 12/383,750Publication number: US 2009/0260508 A1Filing date: Mar 27, 2009

www.silabs.com

www.arduino.com

Sources: