The Challenge
While visiting Perkins School for the Blind, students learned that Perkins students had the option of attending music lessons as well as music therapy sessions. While they had examples of tactile music sheets, students wanted to create a different assistive tool for playing music while having sight and/or hearing impairments.
Research
In addition to onsite research at the Perkins School, students explored various assistive tools used to teach and perform music as well as emerging techniques in soft robotics to create haptic interactions.
Iterations
Students iterated extensively throughout the studio and built several prototypes, exploring various form factors and interactions to assess ergonomics and performance characteristics. Prototypes included both appearance models as well as works like models to simulate the intended experience.
Final Outcome
The final product is a wearable tuner that allows performers to feel when an instrument is flat, sharp, or on pitch using a series of in-line pneumatic actuators and an onboard microphone. Students produced both an aesthetic model showcasing the intended final appearance and ergonomics of the device as well as a working prototype that demonstrated the tactile experience of the actuators.
