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Magic Tree - Development of a technology mediating multi-sensory musical instrument

Storlind, Herta LU (2024) MMKM10 20231
Innovation
Abstract
This thesis is part of the MISK-project, Musik, Interaktiv design, Sinnesstimulering och Kvalitet (Music, Interactive design, Sensory stimulation and Quality). The MISK-project is a collaborative project between Certec at LTH, Furuboda Folkhögskola and Eldorado Resurscenter, developing musical instruments for children and young adults with mental and physical disabilities. The goal of the thesis is to construct a new type of music instrument that is compatible with the music software developed in the MISK-project, and that stimulates multiple of the user’s senses when being played.

During the thesis project, the scope was focused on building an instrument for an upcoming exhibition at Världskulturmuseet, where the MISK-project will be... (More)
This thesis is part of the MISK-project, Musik, Interaktiv design, Sinnesstimulering och Kvalitet (Music, Interactive design, Sensory stimulation and Quality). The MISK-project is a collaborative project between Certec at LTH, Furuboda Folkhögskola and Eldorado Resurscenter, developing musical instruments for children and young adults with mental and physical disabilities. The goal of the thesis is to construct a new type of music instrument that is compatible with the music software developed in the MISK-project, and that stimulates multiple of the user’s senses when being played.

During the thesis project, the scope was focused on building an instrument for an upcoming exhibition at Världskulturmuseet, where the MISK-project will be exhibiting. The instrument is built to look like a tree branch, that the user can play on by touching the lights hanging down from it, fitting into the theme of a magical forest, and is named The Magic Tree. The instrument is constructed using an Arduino, capacitive touch sensors, and fibre optics, to create the sensation of the user playing on the lights hanging from the branch. The Magic Tree emits light through the fibre optics corresponding to where the user is touching it. The branch plays music by sending messages over Wi-Fi to a computer running the MISK music software that interprets the signals and sends out music. (Less)
Popular Abstract
Birth of the Magic Tree

Why should playing an instrument need to be difficult? In this master thesis, an instrument made out of a tree branch and a mini
computer allows everyone be a professional musician. Most people are affected by music. It is a way
to connect human to human, to communicate and express emotions. Music is an excellent way of interacting with others and can be an effective communication channel for persons with disabilities that may lack the ability to interact with speech. Traditional musical instruments often require fine motor skills and short response time. The MISK-project, a collaboration between Certec at LTH, Furuboda Folkhögskola and Eldorado Resurscenter in Gothenburg, wants to challenge this, by... (More)
Birth of the Magic Tree

Why should playing an instrument need to be difficult? In this master thesis, an instrument made out of a tree branch and a mini
computer allows everyone be a professional musician. Most people are affected by music. It is a way
to connect human to human, to communicate and express emotions. Music is an excellent way of interacting with others and can be an effective communication channel for persons with disabilities that may lack the ability to interact with speech. Traditional musical instruments often require fine motor skills and short response time. The MISK-project, a collaboration between Certec at LTH, Furuboda Folkhögskola and Eldorado Resurscenter in Gothenburg, wants to challenge this, by building new types of musical instruments that everyone can play on and enjoy. The focus of the MISK project is making instruments for children with multiple disabilities, and the outcome of the project is useful to everyone who enjoys playing music, maybe even to people who don’t – yet. In this master thesis, the instrument build takes the shape of a tree branch with hanging fibre optics, that senses touch through capacitance, a form of electrical potential. When touched, it lights up and plays music based on the user’s playing.
The branch is connected to the heart of the instrument, the MISK software, a synthesizer that processes the signals and converts in into sounds. Most instruments in the already existing MISK-family light up when played. This master thesis explores the possibility to let the lights be the instrument, by connecting capacitive threads and fibre optics to an Arduino, a small and affordable programmable mini-computer. The result is a satisfying experience of hearing the voice of a tree branch when touching the mesmerising lights. The design is reviewed based on the Universal Design Principles, a set of principles that when followed, ensure a product that is available to everyone, regardless of their abilities. They have proven very useful in this design project, but can and should be used when designing all types of products to increase accessibility in the world.

The end product of this thesis, The Magic Tree, is played by touching the lights with some (conductive) part of the body. The hanging branches are easy to reach can be played with the face, hands or any part of the body. It doesn’t need delicate movements or strong force, but will let anyone make music on it. The Magic Tree will hopefully bring variation into the MISK project and be continuously developed to reach persons eager to play music together in a new way, open to everyone. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Storlind, Herta LU
supervisor
organization
course
MMKM10 20231
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
multi-sensory, musical instrument, capacitive sensing, Arduino, multifunctional disabilities
language
English
id
9144175
date added to LUP
2024-01-08 15:35:22
date last changed
2024-01-08 15:35:22
@misc{9144175,
  abstract     = {{This thesis is part of the MISK-project, Musik, Interaktiv design, Sinnesstimulering och Kvalitet (Music, Interactive design, Sensory stimulation and Quality). The MISK-project is a collaborative project between Certec at LTH, Furuboda Folkhögskola and Eldorado Resurscenter, developing musical instruments for children and young adults with mental and physical disabilities. The goal of the thesis is to construct a new type of music instrument that is compatible with the music software developed in the MISK-project, and that stimulates multiple of the user’s senses when being played.

During the thesis project, the scope was focused on building an instrument for an upcoming exhibition at Världskulturmuseet, where the MISK-project will be exhibiting. The instrument is built to look like a tree branch, that the user can play on by touching the lights hanging down from it, fitting into the theme of a magical forest, and is named The Magic Tree. The instrument is constructed using an Arduino, capacitive touch sensors, and fibre optics, to create the sensation of the user playing on the lights hanging from the branch. The Magic Tree emits light through the fibre optics corresponding to where the user is touching it. The branch plays music by sending messages over Wi-Fi to a computer running the MISK music software that interprets the signals and sends out music.}},
  author       = {{Storlind, Herta}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Magic Tree - Development of a technology mediating multi-sensory musical instrument}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}