Application Development ( Ezra & Alex )
1) A summary of the problem and an overview of your work.
It is hard to learn music and get use to all the note, chord and scale structures.
We want to create an interactive audio space where kids can have fun creating
audio while at the same time learning by seeing visuals of what the noise actually
means and how certain notes sound.
We want to create an interactive audio space where kids can have fun creating
audio while at the same time learning by seeing visuals of what the noise actually
means and how certain notes sound.
2) Detailed problem Description
a) Problem Descriptions
Kids are easily distracted and it takes a huge amount of focus to start understanding
how to create structured music. It usually takes consistent lessons to achieve the
memory in order to improvise, write down notes and understand how to read music.
how to create structured music. It usually takes consistent lessons to achieve the
memory in order to improvise, write down notes and understand how to read music.
b) Assumptions
Music is very fun and limitless. It is a way to connect with the world through feelings
and vibes. Music is one of the most important things this world has. It is important for
kids to have learning opportunities where they can have fun exploring their own styles
in audio/music.
and vibes. Music is one of the most important things this world has. It is important for
kids to have learning opportunities where they can have fun exploring their own styles
in audio/music.
c) The way you obtained your information
We just think it is important to build more interactive audio spaces for people to experience.
Everyone enjoys music at least more than once in their lives. It’s important to make learning
and experiencing something fun for kids considering they are now heavily distracted by
screens and video games.
Everyone enjoys music at least more than once in their lives. It’s important to make learning
and experiencing something fun for kids considering they are now heavily distracted by
screens and video games.
d) Your methodology to solve the problem
Build an interactive audio environment using lasers that set off triggers for all the notes on
a piano scale ( A through G# ) The notes will be large round domes with the letters painted on them.
a piano scale ( A through G# ) The notes will be large round domes with the letters painted on them.
e) Environments (e.g., hardware, software, equipment, policy of the company, etc.)
There is a window that separates a room from another. We can drill holes into the window
and place the lasers in it with silicon so that the laser is fixed but can move around. This
way the kids cant take the laser and shine it around into someones eye. It stays pointed
at the wall.
and place the lasers in it with silicon so that the laser is fixed but can move around. This
way the kids cant take the laser and shine it around into someones eye. It stays pointed
at the wall.
It is a Phantom Laser and you can see the beam. We will make plastic half domes that
brighten up when hit with the beam that'll trigger a photoresistor connected to an arduino
board connected to a computer running MAX MSP ( a software that can turn sensors into
audio triggers )
brighten up when hit with the beam that'll trigger a photoresistor connected to an arduino
board connected to a computer running MAX MSP ( a software that can turn sensors into
audio triggers )
Hopefully we can run 25 photoresistors in plastic or glass domes which is 2 full note scales.
There will have to be small walls between the notes so that the glare coming off one doesn’t
trigger the others in its vicinity.
There will have to be small walls between the notes so that the glare coming off one doesn’t
trigger the others in its vicinity.
This is a green laser. We could potentially add a blue laser that triggers visuals and a red
that triggers an audio slide with a glide effect in maxmsp.
that triggers an audio slide with a glide effect in maxmsp.
The audio is wired to newly installed BOSE or SONOS speakers that are in the spectator room.
f) Any special considerations specific to your problem
Start with making an on/off audio switch work in maxmsp. Then build the domes using plastic
or glass bowls. Then get 25 photoresistors and a lot of wire that connects to an arduino board.
About a $600-800 budget. Wire, sensors, material, speakers, drilling the hole and construction
time. We have 2 lasers already but hopefully we can get another 2 so 4 kids can go at it. Of
course they might make the most crazy amount of noise but if they can have a fun experience
then maybe they will have the curiosity to go learn a real instrument. So pretty much we want
to share a fun experience with an interactive audio space to trigger more curiosity in learning
how to compose music for kids.
or glass bowls. Then get 25 photoresistors and a lot of wire that connects to an arduino board.
About a $600-800 budget. Wire, sensors, material, speakers, drilling the hole and construction
time. We have 2 lasers already but hopefully we can get another 2 so 4 kids can go at it. Of
course they might make the most crazy amount of noise but if they can have a fun experience
then maybe they will have the curiosity to go learn a real instrument. So pretty much we want
to share a fun experience with an interactive audio space to trigger more curiosity in learning
how to compose music for kids.
