2008-07: A PureData audio and GEM video rapid prototype of DranceWare for use with
Wii Remotes as wireless accelerometers via Bluetooth^® has been developed for Mac OS-X.

Drancing suits (HISTORICAL)

The original Drancing instrument for desktop computer used suits/costumes to contain sensors, cables, and auxiliary electonics. (Note that I am now also developing mobile Drancel units., and am also using Wii Remotes as wireless accelerometers via Bluetooth^®).

The Drancing instrument consists of a suit wired with 3D accelerometers (acceleration transducers).

(An alternative configuration uses tight-fitting clothing over TubiGrip(R) to contain the accelerometer cables.)

3D-Accelerometers

Many types of transducers can be used to generate "musical" signals. My favourite sensors are 3D (triaxial) accelerometers, such as those from Crossbow Inc. These handy, robust, sensors can easily be worn on a watchstrap on the wrist and strapped to shoelaces on the feet, or worn on a belt around the waist. (Tiny 1D accelerometers can even be worn on the fingers.) And one can go anywhere with them - unlike motion-capture technology, which requires a reference system to measure position and velocity !

Note that many of the applications of triaxial accelerometers apply equally to triaxial gyroscopes, in fact some manufacturers combine them in one convenient unit ! For more interesting facts on accelerometers read "Did you know ?".

Some scans of acquired data from 5 triaxial accelerometers (channel 0 was broken):

2047 -106  265    126  140  197    115  116  158    108 -139 -645   -611 -631 -660
2047 -103  263    132  142  193    117  119  158    109 -137 -650   -609 -629 -659
2047 -102  261    133  144  194    123  120  156    109 -139 -647   -607 -625 -658
2047 -106  262    127  144  199    116  121  155    109 -139 -647   -605 -626 -658
2047 -105  263    125  147  202    111  121  158    109 -133 -645   -601 -625 -656
2047 -104  259    127  145  200    111  123  157    111 -133 -646   -600 -624 -656
2047 -106  261    128  149  199    111  125  158    109 -134 -647   -598 -620 -651

A screenshot of the 3D accelerometer signal monitors of DranceWare.

Data transmission

The sensor data is transmitted to a computer for real-time synthesis of sound, video, and control signals, and/or translation into commands to trigger and modulate samplers, sound-modules, or light-modules.

The original Drancing prototypes (1996-) used a long cable, which is fine for prototype development, however it restricts the performer somewhat, and thus one loses some of the advantages of using accelerometers (which require no spatial reference system).

Data acquisition (HISTORICAL)

Analog signals from many sensors were acquired by a PCI-DAS1000 250 kHz A/D Board from Measurement Computing. I thank the Australian supplier Novatech Controls Pty Ltd. for their accurate advice and support, and movement therapist Hadyn Muir for sponsoring my acquisition of data acquisition !

The norm of 3D accelerometer signals from Drancing with sample triggers shown in red

The move to wireless data telemetry

Wireless data telemetry has been employed successfully for some time by gestural music systems such as Wayne Siegel's "bending sensor" system at DIEM. Even basic radio data telemetry systems can function over a hundreds of metres, so Drancing with accelerometers could be used over a huge performance area.

Signals from a number of Drancing performers dancing over a huge area like a stadium could be combined to synthesise "collective" music and modulate and trigger stadium. Just imagine the possibilities !

2008-07: I am currently using Wii Remotes as wireless accelerometers via Bluetooth^® on Mac OS-X. See and hear these movies.

I am also working on migrating my original 5-sensor "body star" drancing suit with Crossbow accelerometers to wireless Bluetooth^®.