Technology Journal week 9 Submission

Forum

Seb Tomczack

Honours Topic: Do It Yourself physical Interfaces

“An electrical connector is a device for joining electrical circuits together. In computing, an electrical connector can also be known as a physical interface.*1” The physical interface (P.I.) converts control voltage from a sensor into digital information. It is sent to a computer via USB. A program on the computer maps certain parameters for the information. This can be used for a wide variety of tasks. Converting the signal to sound for example.

There are currently two main models of P.I.’s available. The “Teleo*2” ($205)
and the “I-CubeX*3” ($385).
Each has its positive and negative attributes. Seeing this as an economically impractical option for the average hobbyist or people of low socio economic backgrounds, Seb aims “to create an economically efficient and practically viable model for physical to computer interactivity;*4” A DIY physical interface.

In addition to this, a free online resource containing information on how to assemble the interface, applications and patches, a musical interface, and documentation. A concert using the P.I. and musical interface will be performed by Seb at the end of the year.

I will be intrigued as to how the musical interface will work and also how the concert will sound. I am sure many people within and outside the musical domain will appreciate the availability of a cheap P.I. that Seb estimates at only costing $20.


Darren Curtis

Honours Topic: Frequency Medicine.

“According to Dr Alfred Tomatis,
the ear's first function in utero is to govern the growth of the rest of the physical organism. After birth, sound is to the nervous system what food is to our physical bodies: Food provides nourishment at the cellular level of the organism, and sound feeds us the electrical impulses that charge the neocortex.

In the realm of application-specific music and sound, psychoacoustically-designed soundtracks revolve around the following concepts and techniques:
• Intentionality (focused application for specific benefit)
• Resonance (tone)
• Entrainment (rhythm)
• Pattern Identification (active listening or passive hearing)
• Sonic Neurotechnologies (highly specialized sound processing)*5”

This is essentially the honours topic Darren has chosen. Through the study into these specific things he hopes to develop his own software package that applies these functions as a method of Sonic Healing.

I’ve heard of many applications of Frequency medicine and I’m very excited to see what Darren comes up with, as I believe it has great potential.

Workshop With David Harris

Christian Marclay*6



-Mixed together songs by various artists on the turntable using changes in tempo and major panning.

1. John Strauss
Was quite comical and light-hearted.

2. Jimmi Hendrix
Had some interesting sonic results at points.


3. Mariah Callas
Got a bit to repetitive and the extension on the one vocal note really got annoying.

4. John Cage
Was different from the other 3 as it was made from an amalgamation of sections taken from different Cage records. It had an enjoyable rhythmic pulse and the sounds were mixed in at very artistic levels making them very texturally enjoyable.


Pink Floyd

“Shine on you crazy diamond” from the “Wish you were here” album (1975)



Parts 1-4

The layering of sound used within this song is incredible. Even more incredible is the use of different synthesised, technologically produced, and acoustic instruments in conjunction, in such a creative manner.

Audio Arts

David Dowling and I put into practice the mic techniques being taught to us over the last couple of weeks. Obviously he is the one doing the impossibly insane guitar solo!

LD and DD

Creative Computing

The latest installation of my NIN remix turned out ok. The end needs a chill out drum beat though.

NIN Remix


*1 Wikipedia. “Electrical connector.” Wikipedia.com 27 April 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_interface (11 May 2006).

*2 Making things “Teleo Tools.” Makingthings.com 23 April 2006. http://www.makingthings.com/index.htm (11 May 2006).

*3 I-CubeX. “I-CubeX” 1 March 2006. http://infusionsystems.com/catalog/index.php (11 May 2006).

*4 Seb, Tomczack. “DIY Physical Interface” Lecture presented at University of Adelaide, 11 May 2006.

*5 Joshua, Leeds. “Psychoacoustics” Sound-Remedies.com Sonic solutions for health, learning and productivity. 2001. http://shop.store.yahoo.com/sound-remedies/psyc.html (11 May 2006).

*6 Unknown. "Into" Christian Marclay. 2000 http://www.mcachicago.org/cm_media/run-index.htm (11 May 2006).

Picture References
(in order of appearance)

#1 Making things “Teleo Tools.” Makingthings.com 23 April 2006. http://www.makingthings.com/index.htm (11 May 2006).

#2 I-CubeX. “System” I-CubeX. 1 March 2006. http://infusionsystems.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21/products_id/28 (11 May 2006).

#3 Tim, Wilson. "The Mystery of Listening." Persona Media.com 2006. http://www.personamedia.com/new.html (11 May 2006).

#4 Cameron Wittig. "Christian Marclay." Artist in Residence. 2004 http://performingarts.walkerart.org/detail.wac?id=1809&title=Artists-in-Residence (11 May 2006).

#5 Amazon.com "Wish you were here." Pink Floyd Catalogue. 2006 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000024D4S/002-1349767-9067204?v=glance&n=5174 (11 May 2006).