SOUND HUG* is a spherical device that a person can hug to enjoy music visually and tangibly. The system plays the sound of the entire song or a specific instrument on a vibrating speaker installed inside the sphere, enabling the tangible sensation of music vibrations. Moreover, it is also equipped with a mechanism in which the spherical object emits light in conjunction with the music, enabling one to visually enjoy the melody of the music, which is difficult to convey tangibly. Using SOUND HUG, we are proposing a new way of experiencing music, where one can enjoy music physically, not just through the ears, irrespective of any hearing impairments.
* SOUND HUG is the trademark of Pixie Dust Technologies, Inc.
< Case >
■ Case 1
Client: Japan Philharmonic Orchestra
To find ways to enjoy music together with people with hearing impairments, SOUND HUG was developed as a device for enjoying music in concerts for people with hearing impairments. We are grateful to many people who have cooperated with us in the development and adjustment of the device, including Kayoko Yamamoto engaged in research on the music education of people with hearing impairments (Special Needs Education School for the Deaf, University of Tsukuba), Mr. Kento Sakai (deaf soccer player), and the university students with hearing impairments.
Photo © Atsushi Yamaguchi
■ Case 2
Client: Hard Rock Japan
They have decided to introduce it, as we would like people with hearing impairments enjoy the entertainment including music provided by Hard Rock without any barriers. We invited people with hearing impairments living in Hokkaido to a concert, and they enjoyed the experience.
＜ Theory ＞
The music played is picked up by the microphone and then converted to light and vibration in real time, making it possible to experience music visually and tangibly. To facilitate tactile perception, the music played on stage is collected using microphones and output to vibration speakers fixed inside the spherical object.
The exterior of the spherical object is made of translucent hard plastic, achieving a design that allows easy tactile perception of wide-ranging vibrations from dynamic to very minute.
To facilitate visual perception, the light patterns are determined by analyzing the collected sound of the music played in real time. Blue light is emitted for lower notes, whereas red light is emitted for higher notes. Moreover, the intensity of the light emitted is determined by the volume of the sound. It is possible to change the mapping between music note and color, or adjust it to match the onstage performances.
■ Use in events
The Symbol Event, Shizuoka Prefecture Disabled Art Festival. Shizuoka Prefecture. Kikugawa Cultural Hall AEL, Shizuoka, Japan. 2019-11-23. https://syougei.jp/
Bunka Futtotsu! Stage Show. Executive Committee of the 34th National Cultural Festival and the 19th National Arts and Culture Festival for Persons with Disabilities of Niigata Prefecture. Niigata Prefectural Civic Center, Niigata, Japan. 2019-11-17. https://niigata-futtotsu.jp/
SOUND-FREE CONCERT 2019, Yoichi Ochiai and Japan Philharmonic Orchestra Project, VOL. 3. Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall, Tokyo, Japan. 2019-08-20.
https://www.japanphil.or.jp/concert/23719
Hard Rock Family Live. Hard Rock Japan. Wakuwaku Holiday Hall (Sapporo Citizens Hall), Hokkaido, Japan. 2019-02-04 to 2019-02-07.
https://hardrock.co.jp/snowfes2019.html
TRANSFORMING ORCHESTRA, Yoichi Ochiai and Japan Philharmonic Orchestra Project, VOL. 2. Japan Philharmonic Orchestra. Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall, Tokyo, Japan. 2018-08-27.
https://www.japanphil.or.jp/concert/23302
SOUND-FREE CONCERT, Yoichi Ochiai and Japan Philharmonic Orchestra Project, VOL. 1. Japan Philharmonic Orchestra. Tokyo International Forum, Hall D7, Tokyo, Japan. 2018-04-22.
https://www.japanphil.or.jp/concert/23214
■Award
Cannes Lions 2019, Entertainment Lions for Music, Bronze Lion. SOUND-FREE CONCERT. 2019.
https://www.canneslions.com
Cannes Lions 2019, Sustainable Development Goals, Shortlisted. SOUND-FREE CONCERT. 2019.
https://www.canneslions.com
Eleventh Japan Marketing Award - Encouragement Award. SOUND-FREE CONCERT. 2019.
https://www.jma2-jp.org/award
Seventy second “Dentsu Advertisement Award” - Innovation approach top award/ special award. SOUND-FREE CONCERT. 2019.
https://adawards.dentsu.jp/prize/
Fifth Japan Event Award – Sound perception update award. Yoichi Ochiai and Japan Philharmonic Orchestra Project (Vol. 1. SOUND-FREE CONCERT, Vol. 2. TRANSFORMING ORCHESTRA). 2019.
http://award.jace.or.jp/