Wow, look at those pants. They're makin' music!
That would be the icube. No pants included.
The only use we have for these is to make sensors with them. Each sensor
only costs 2 cents, plus wire and duct tape.
Aaah, my place of work.
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I'm sure by now you're thinking "What
the hell is in Ryan's head?" Obviously nothing. But there's
certainly something on his legs: The Musical Pants. For those of you
technical people, you can look at the original independent study
application thingy here. Most people won't
need that, though. Read on!
The iCube
The power behind the musical pants is the iCube. This little box of
machinery uses midi signals to send input from various sensors to and
from the computer. There are many types of sensors such as turn-dials,
light sensors, motion sensors, touch sensors, buttons, etc. These
sensors send signals to the icube which interprets the signals and sends
them to the computer to do random things (change volume, play musical
notes, take over the world).
The Sensors
The pants use two types of sensors so far, but more will be
incorporated later. The first is the turn-dial, which is used to control
the volume of the notes played with the pants. There are two turn-dials,
one for each leg. Also on each leg are four custom-made-penny-sensors.
The penny sensors are nothing more than a pair of pennies separated by
foam insulation, and each hooked up to a wire. When the pennies are
touching they complete an electric circuit and send an "on"
signal to the iCube. These are used to play musical notes
The Pants
The musical pants have four penny sensors in each thigh (from
the knee up to the hip), and one turn dial on each hip. Wires from the
sensors go to the iCube, which is fastened to the pants at some point.
The pants are not very mobile, because the iCube must be plugged into a
computer to work. Once everything is set up correctly, whoever is in
Ryan's musical pants can play notes from one instrument by hitting the
sensors on one leg, and another instrument by hitting the other leg. The
turn-dials can be adjusted so each instrument has a different volume. It
works best when the volume is set above zero. Usually.
Look at my pants!
Click here to watch a video of a recent
performance of the pants
A sensor amid the debris of the Midi Lab! |
The program used to control the iCube. |
Program used to control the pants. |
These pants are extra large for big-boned people,
such as myself. |
A synthesizer for making noises out of
pants-messages. Dirty debris all over it. |
The knob for volume control on them pants. |
Me and my pants! Notice the fun wires. |
Proof that Ryan was plugged into a box. |
Technical difficulties. |
Slapping the pants makes noise. |
More technical difficulties. |
Ryan unplugged. |
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