Midterm Project

PROJECT TITLE: Dance with Me

MY NAME: Wendy Xu

INSTRUCTOR’S NAME: Andy Garcia

CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE

When I am doing research about interactive projects online, I found a project called Virtuoso (2014), which is a music app. “[B]y moving the iPhone around in all directions, whilst holding down one or multiple fingers to the screen, the user can control and manipulate five different synthesizers. The 5 synthesizers generate abstract electronic sounds by 5 different synthesis techniques: additive-, physical modeling-, FM-, subtractive-, and granular-synthesis”.

I was inspired by the project. By interacting with the app, there are sound and visual effects produced, and they are matched with each other. The idea is similar to ours’ and inspired us.

In my interpretation, the interaction does not mean users giving instruction to the project and it responds to that. It should be the back and forth communication between two actors. In our project, when users hear the music they have produced right now, they will be encouraged to produce another, which makes an interactive circle. Also, we have buttons that control the buzzer to play singsongs, based on which, users are expected to add on their own thoughts to make a more interesting and innovative music piece.

CONCEPTION AND DESIGN

At first, we decided to make a piano keyboard using the distance sensor to detect which key our hands are on. However, after talking with our instructor, we realized our idea is not innovative and disruptive enough. It is already something we are using every day and we are kind of bored with it.

Then, we started to dig the conception of music deeper. From our perspective, music is an approach to express the motion and intention of the person in the form of sound. When someone is absorbed in music, it’s natural for him or her to move his or her body and follow the rhythms.

On the other hand, music always accompanies dancing as an organic whole. Also, the dancing machine inspired us to design a project which detects the movement of users and sounds different tones accordingly to that.

The following is our idea stretch.

Users are expected to step in the middle of the sensors and move however they want. Distance sensors will detect the distance between the user and the sensor. The sound changes according to the distances. In this way, users interact with the project, enjoying the fun of dancing and music. Also, there are three buttons for users to step on. Each button relates to a famous singsong. Users can play the melody and add some sound besides that. We let the three sensors to sound tones in high, middle and low range so that the music produced would be more enjoyable.

What we want to make is not something with a grand meaning. It is basically used for fun. Besides, musicians always sit still playing musical instruments in the past, but with our project, they are allowed to use their whole body and every feeling to enjoy more pleasure. Also, since there are three people in our team, we design a triangle that allows 1~3 users to compose their music together at the same time, which makes the project more interactive.

FABRICATION AND PRODUCTION

We laser-cut three pyramid boxes to contain the circuit and Arduino, and a box with four holes designed for the buttons. Since the shape we want can’t be automatically produced, we used a glue gun to build things up. We also designed holes to let the cables go through.
To make our project looks like a whole, we cut a large cardboard triangle for users to step on.

During the User Testing Session，we received lots of feedback as the following picture shows.

There are two main problems.

1. Problem: The voice volume is too small that we have to squat down to listen to the variation of the sound. Also, one buzzer which is borrowed from the equipment center has a distinctively higher volume than the other two, and also the pitches of it are strange and change inconspicuously.

Suggestion: We are suggested to use speakers that have louder voices or use an mp3 player.

Solution: Although an mp3 player may have more smooth and melodious sound effects, we decide to still use buzzers to preserve the special sound with industrial features compared to the lifelike sounds we are accustomed to nowadays.

Effect: We try to use all three buzzers from the kit, and then the mixed sound is more harmonious and its variation is obvious. However, the sound is of low volume. So, we tried to make the sound louder.

2. Problem: The instruction is not clear enough. Some test users even didn’t realize that the tone is changing since the variation is difficult to recognize in a low volume.

Suggestion: We are suggested to write the pitches on the cardboard and write some simple instructions.

Solution: We draw colors to distinguish the tones and mark which pitch is each part.

Effect: This came out to be useful when users are playing with the project they can easily figure out that there are differences between each colored part.

CONCLUSIONS

The goals of our project are to provide a place for music or dance lovers to enjoy themselves with their whole bodies and to compose a more creative masterpiece on their own or with others together. In this project, the users and the project react with each other back and forth, which aligns with my definition of interaction. The audience is expected to step on the cardboard and move however they like to and press the buttons if they want. Then, the buzzers will produce variable sounds based on the distance between the user and the sensors and also the music melody.

It would be wonderful if we can add some visual effects together with the sound. So, if we have more time, we will probably add some LED around the margin of the cardboard changing light and colors according to the distance to promote and enrich the feelings and experience of users.

Also, it is a pity that our project is kind of superficial and basically designed for fun. Maybe we can figure out the physiological mechanism behind humans’ feelings and behaviors while listening to music or dancing, and try to combine that with our own project.

Video:

The experience of the midterm group project is beneficial and meaningful for me. Not only does it teaches me the techniques of realizing my idea, but also it inspires me of some interesting and creative idea of interaction artifacts.

References:

Anders, M. (2014). Interactive/Audiovisual Projects. Retrieved November 03, 2020, from https://www.andersmonrad.com/interactiveaudiovisual-projects