We’re not sure if this is the best thing ever or a crime against nature – but developers have announced the first release of Velosynth, the open-source bicycle interaction synthesizer. released under a creative commons sharealike license.
It’s a small, hackable computer that a”ugments the cycling experience by interpreting speed, acceleration, and other sensor data into useful audio feedback.”
How Velosynth works:
a hall-effect sensor attached to the fork detects the presence of a magnet fixed to a spoke of the front wheel. a three-axis accelerometer within the enclosure can be used to detect turning, leaning, and tilting. sensor data is collected and transmogrified by the cpu, which provides both audio and visual feedback.
audio feedback is created using a digital oscillator circuit that is controlled by a digital potentiometer connected to the cpu. its output is amplified and sent to the speaker.
visual feedback is negotiated through a 4-digit, 7-segment display that shines through the skin of the enclosure. additional LEDs can also be added and controlled by the CPU.
Here’s how to know if the Velosynth is for you:
Kits are $100. See Velosynth.com for details.
Very annoying. Both the synth and the guys in the video.
I want one for my car!
Not sure I understand why you’d want your bike to make annoying squeeling noises – but it made me wonder about repurposing this to do something more musical.
I think this is f*@king awesome! It's a shame they sold of kits already 🙁
u mad?
lol
can i put this on my fixie?
Oh, of course you can and it comes with a free pair of skinny jeans and a copy of Choke!!!!
Wow, someone's a little bitter….
Besides, declaring that I should drop everything I'm doing, leave my family, job, and friends to clean up a mess that I didn't cause in any way shape or form, rather than holding those responsible for the disaster to fix the problems they created, is ridiculous. I know the damage crude oil causes to ecosystems, and with out technology in this day and age, what has happened is irreparable. That sucks, but it's the hard truth.
Also, I hope you choke on crude oil and die, because you are a terribly bitter person with no compassion for your fellow man. Don't try to act like you care about the gulf while advocating the open execution of other members of the public, you fascist.
Let's get this back to music so I don't have to get medieval on this comment thread.
Keep your comments on topic, be coherent, skip the personal attacks and, above all, don't waste my time.
Maybe this catches on and we'll get to see Kraftwerk actually ride bicycles.
I don't get it. The product that is. Did they actually play it at all? Are you supposed to hook up a speaker to yer bike and ride around annoying everyone, or does it collect the data so it can be played another time? And if the latter, what does the "data' consist of?
If it chucked out midi data, that would be cool.
Yer Pal,
Gel-Sol
i like the idea, but this isn't music. It is machine taking measurements and vomiting out the feedback as a change in air pressure. The noises created are probably cool and the device may even be useable as an instrument provided a composer can reign in it's peculiarities. This is amazing regardless. It reminds me of the biometric feedback devices used in hypnotherapy sessions.
If you could strap it to supermodels, it would be more interesting.
If you strapped it to a supermodel, it would probably be more interesting.
If you strapped it to a supermodel, it might be more fun.
Maybe if you strapped it to something interesting, like a supermodel, it would be more fun.
You're very sad. Don't you know that Jesus loves you? Ironically, I think you're a ****.
🙂
PS It's Mr T. Sex I'm referring to.
You're very sad. Don't you know that Jesus loves you? Ironically, I think you're a ****.
🙂
Oh, go fuck yourself.
Oh really, so it's white people that do all the annoying things in the world?
For the record, Black people are responsible for: Spinners, misspelling every word on purpose with z's instead of s, Grills, ridiculously large or small rims. Stupid catch phrases like "Bling Bling" Pants falling completely off their asses to the point where they can't even run from the cops if they wanted to. And most black people in the nation aren't out there cleaning up the spill either.
Mexicans can be blamed for: The Macarena. Perpetuating Polka music. Terrible television. Taking bad jobs on purpose and expecting to be thanked for it. I may not need to go further.
Asian people? Bad driving, ignoring American culture while living here and reaping the benefits, making inferior products that don't even work like they are supposed to (china), oppression of their own women and people.
My point? Everyone's annoying. Especially you. Quit bitching and just worry about yourself and what YOU do in life.