Ο Daniel Belquer, “Chief Vibrational Officer"Of his Music: Not Impossible, developed a tactile suit with vibrating plates to enhance the live music experience for deaf and hard of hearing people.
The suit, unveiled at an event titled “Silent Disco: An Evening of Access Magic” at Lincoln Center, provided unique textures and sensations that matched the music, creating an inclusive environment for all participants, regardless of hearing ability.
The NPR he says:
His team started by hooking up vibrators cell phones of phones to bodies, but that didn't work. The vibrations were all the same. Eventually, they teamed up with engineers from company of Avnet electronics to develop a lightweight haptic suit with a total of 24 actuators or vibrating plates. There are 20 of them bolted to a vest that fits tightly around the body like a hiking backpack, as well as an activator strapped to each wrist and ankle.
When you wear it you can feel something like raindrops on your shoulders, a tickle on the ribs, a pat on the lower back. It doesn't play the music, but gives waves of sensations to your skin in a way that complements the music.
A recent event at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts titled “Silent Disco: An Evening of Access Magic” presented the capabilities of the suit. There were seventy of them on shelves in a party that was meant to be accessible to all.
Anyone could borrow one, hard of hearing, or deaf, and try it out under the giant disco ball that hung over the Lincoln Center fountain. The vibes were mixed by a tactile DJ who could control the location, the frequency and the intensity of feeling in the uniforms, as a musical DJ mixes the sounds.
