SoundBlocks

SoundBlocks

SoundBlocks is a tangible environment where young users connect blocks to describe network dataflow. The environment explores digital sound manipulation as a personal, meaningful and fun artistic endeavor, rather than as a venture into mathematical, electronic or networking relationships.

Lead by their own curiosity, children can design their own sounds by exploring SoundBlocks. In doing so, they will indirectly learn about networks, mathematics and hardware synthesizers and sequencers. The environment will shift the child’s focus from the product of creation to the process of creation.

SoundBlocks was part of my Master’s Thesis at MIT’s Media Laboratory. I built SoundBlocks collaborating with colleague Andrew McPherson.

Similar Posts

  • Avian Migration

    In 2018 I collaborated with Artist Lisa Rundstrom and artist/engineer Tom McGuire to create the public art sculpture, Avian Migration at Wichita’s new Advanced Learning Library. Avian Migration consists of more than 1,300 LEDs controlled by 8 motion-activated sensors spread throughout the library. I was primarily responsible for the development and implementation of the software…

  • Build Day

    As founding Director of WSU’s Center for Research in Arts, Technology, Education and Learning (CRATEL) I hosted Build Day every Friday. On Build Day, CRATEL was open to visitors, volunteers, or anybody who wanted to come by, chat, or build something.

  • String Improvation

    In 2001 I founded Wichita State University’s String Improvisation Department and established WSU’s yearly String Improvisation Day each year, an introduction to string improvisation for string players who had little or no experience with improvisation. I then expanded our String Improvisation program with a new grant-funded initiative: Sharing Music Sharing Culture (SMSC) which connected The Irish World Music Center students and faculty with WSU.

  • Touch #2

    Touch #2 is a playful virtual environment and an interactive, musical instrument. Viewers become participants through play. The work transforms any flat wall into a touch-sensitive surface. A projector and infrared camera mount on the ceiling and infrared emitters mount on top of the wall, allowing the work to detect as many as 10 touches…