An interactive plant box that challenges the disconnect between nature and technology
Photosynth: A product developed for the Synth UX Hackathon
Jyotsna Venkatesh | Perry Owens | Anna Nuggehalli | Andy DiLallo
Develop a synthesizer for the Synth UX Hackathon
Prompt: Habitat for Coexistence
Timeline: 4 days
Prompt: Habitat for Coexistence
Timeline: 4 days
Arduino | MaxMSP
Photoresistors | Soldering
Woodworking + Lasercutting
Photoresistors | Soldering
Woodworking + Lasercutting
Photosynth reminds us to create balance in our working habitat. Remember to enjoy the simple beauty of life by having this planter displayed by your side. Introduce a more vibrant ambiance to your workspace, and relax with its soothing sounds. If your mood changes, don’t let the music stop playing! Adjust the position of your plant, and in response, the music shifts to a new melody. Don’t forget to take a break too! Every twenty minutes, a gong strikes and the music fades away, reminding you to avert your eyes from the blue screen in front of you; appreciate the blue sky outside instead.
When a person shifts the plant’s position across the surface of the stand, light sensors hidden below sense this change and report it to the connected Arduino. The Arduino then passes this information along its roots to the source of the ambient music, a computer generated algorithm written in Max MSP. Not only is the synth affected by the alteration of the plant, the drums also kick into high tempo, revitalizing the melody with a new energy. A timer counts down the minutes until the gong will ring, resetting the synth as it fades away, incentivizing you to mentally reset too.
The Process
I got to work on the electrical connections between the arduino and the nine photoresistors used. I also cut wood and made the black wooden pillar that stands on the inside of the box. I learned how to get MAX to read input from the Arduino, I wrote the below Arduino code and Max code that was used in parts in the overall code contributed by all the team members.
