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The AlphaSphere

Video Details

nu desine were commissioned to develop ‘The AlphaSphere’, an electronic musical instrument with a tactile, sensory interface. The project explored how pervasive technologies, smart materials, and interaction design could be employed to offer new ways of interacting and performing with digital sound and media.

Sep - Dec 2010

Duration: 3mins 32secs

The AlphaSphere is an electronic musical instrument with a tactile, sensor-based interface which aims to move production away from the computer and back into the instrument.

Initially the project focused on developing the interface, which included identifying the technology that would most enhance the experience of playing the instrument. The project also sought to explore how processed and amplified digital sounds could be made to interact with each other in much the same way as acoustic sounds. Acoustic sounds resonate with each other and their environment through the direct production of sound waves, so nu desine responded to this by exploring how smart materials, pervasive technologies, and interaction design could be harnessed to develop a series of prototype electronic instruments capable of interacting with their environment and each other.  

nu desine is a company formed by Adam Place in 2010, and its first major project was to distribute, develop, upgrade, and maintain The AlphaSphere. Adam Place was also granted a residency at the Pervasive Media Studio in conjunction with the Graduate / New Talent scheme, and has developed the AlphaSphere as part of his Music and Visual Art diploma.

Related Links:
www.alphasphere.com
Adam at the Pervasive Media Studio