The FabricKeyboard

Project by MIT Media Lab: Responsive Environments 

A new multi-modal musical instrument has been designed and constructed by MIT’s Media Lab. The sensor-ridden, textile keyboard engages it’s users through it’s extensive library of sounds triggered by interacting with it’s e-fabric. The unique feature that stirred the motive of this project is this new ability to create music not just buy tapping or touching the keys of an instrument, but by pulling, squeezing, spinning, or waving above the instrument. There are a number of ways to be creative in the way that sounds are produced with this “magic” keyboard.

Touch controls and conductive threads were weaved underneath the conductive fabric to detect touch and a person’s proximity to the keys. Each touch, proximity, and stretch sensor, in addition to track pads and ribbon controllers, is connected to the instrument’s interior circuitry. This type of interactive fabric has been utilized since the 1970’s in jacket pockets and continues to intrigue researchers and creators today in multiple contexts and with varying purposes, such as a jacket that connects to a personal phone.

The computational system within the fabric of the keyboard is quite impressive yet simple to understand in some sense. Having the ability to “plug-in” different modes of input (trackpad vs. motion sensor) has incredible potential for it’s users and I can imagine would be able to adapt to a children’s environment. This is especially true given the soft, malleable parts that are not harmful in a way that hard, pointy objects may be. This system wants to be pulled and manipulated, it seems that it can take a beating from a 5 year-old. It’s also a brilliant way to understand sound and music and explored new modes of expression through movement.

I believe this is relevant to the course because of the potential it holds, and it’s kinetic ability to respond in many ways through movement and malleability. While the user is the perpetrator of the kinetic aspects, sound has it’s own kinetic characteristics in a way. I can see this being integrated in other objects or systems that change it’s purpose from simply a keyboard to a mode of communication or artistic expression.

 

Sources:

https://www.fastcompany.com/90129563/mits-experimental-keyboard-is-unlike-any-instrument-youve-seen-or-heard

https://www.media.mit.edu/projects/FabricKeyboard/overview/