Reactable Electro-Acoustic Tabletop Music Synthesizer
Reactable is a multi-user electro-acoustic music synthesizer with a unique tabletop interface. Performers (like maybe you) control the instrument by placing objects on the table and moving them around. Check out the demo below, and turn your sound up a little.
The Reactable hardware starts with the translucent round table; a camera under the table captures the user actions. This visual data is analyzed; the nature, position and orientation of the objects on the table are assigned elements of a classic modular synthesizer.
Equally cool (I think) is the projector under the Reactable table, that draws dynamic animations on the surface to provide visual feedback.
This awesome bar entertainment device is brought to you by a team of "digital luthiers" under the direction of Dr. Sergi Jordà (in case you forgot, a 'luthier' is a person who makes stringed instruments like guitars). The "Interactive Sonic Systems" team is working in the Music Technology Group within the Audiovisual Institute at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona Spain.
If your circuits are not totally overloaded by this device, take a look at these other unique musical developments:
MusicPad Pro: Digital Sheet Music File Player
You can store your entire music library on this device, using digital sheet music brought in from music composition programs and even scanned sheet music files.
Miuro Autonomous Music Robot
Rather than outfitting your house with speakers in every room, why not have a stereo that follows you around?
This device reminded me strongly of another art project - the loopqoob three element music synthesizer.
Found Reactable on SciFi.com; don't forget the Reactable website.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 11/8/2006)
Harrison Bergeron, Illustrated And Practiced
'But he didn't get very far with it before another noise in his ear radio scattered his thoughts. George winced...' - Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., 1961.
Warfare Goes Underground In Ukraine
'Once in the very first weeks of the war, before everyone had been evacuated from the surface...' - Philip K. Dick,
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!)
is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for
the Invention Category that interests
you, the Glossary, the Invention
Timeline, or see what's New.
Prairie Madness - And Space Sickness
'Space-sickness is one of the most unpleasant sensations that a human being can experience. Not all are subject to it...'
'Old People Began to Cross The Continent In Their Own Cars'
'It was a relief to enter one of the comfortable autos, whisper a direction down the tube, and just know that you would be taken to your destination in the quickest, safest, and cheapest manner.'
Starfall Manufacturing Drugs In Space
'The vast spinning sphere of Factory in the Sky loomed above and ahead of us, gleaming white against the unfathomable jet depths of surrounding space.'
The Solar Oberth Slingshot
'And if it doesn’t work,' inquired Lazarus, 'what does that make us? Sunspots?'
'If Anyone Is Watching Earth...'
'Our study of your race has convinced us that you are not fitted to leave your planet in the present state of your civilization.'