Adrian Freed Re: rhythm / correlation research using xOsc devices from ASU

On 2013-12-28, at 7:03 PM, <adrian@adrianfreed.com> wrote:


Some of the researchers at the TML have also designed wearables with an eye to comfort and visual design.  How flat can these enclosures be (and still do their job)?  Can we halve the thickness somehow by re-arrangement, so that the dancer can wear this for example in a flatter, concave part of her/his body?  Can a dancer or roll over it comfortably and safely?

The Sensestage wireless sensor platform that Nikos has used is much cheaper  -- about 1/10 the price including radio + software to map data to Max/MSP/Jitter.   One bottleneck is that each wireless device Bluetooth's to only one base computer at a time.  Another is probably low sample frequency.  (We could not fund numbers.)

I don't know what you are measuring when you say 1/10 of the price. Are
you including any labor costs -all the setup time the Canadian
government is paying
to configure the radios etc? Zigbee radios are paired to a master radio
which has to be accounted for. Also the old sense stage didn't have a
full 9DOF IMU - just
an unpopulated accelerometer. THese devices are significantly different
enough that I think we may be in Apple/Oranges territory.

Try a setup where you have them both connected to the same object.

flatness of fit?
I have found some smooth boxes to put things in: avoid stacking battery
and device. Put them side by side in narrow boxes with a good hinged
connection between. Silicone wire used by RC hobbyists is the magic
material you need for strain relief and to deliver enough power.
x-OSC gets hot due to higher power radio (and longer distances).


The xOSC is pricey but technically better on key specs -- so the remaining question is how physically wearable can it be….
The key thing for me is that you know when each measurement was made.
x-OSC has accurate time tags and the firmware
is starting to use this on various input sources (output control will be
done next year) . x-OSCis actually using an uncalibrated medium-grade
9DOF IMU.
Vangelis can fill you in on the sources and prices of calibrated
systems. Extra credit homework is to self-calibrate based on the
correlations rather
than use conventional "calibrate-to-a-reference" scientific and
engineering practice.

Experiment:

Can we entrust this discussion to TML RA's if available:  Julian Stein + Nikos Chandolias?   Nikos is an MA student who is both an electrical engineer and a dancer by training?   Talk / confer with Adrian Freed @ CNMAT Berkeley, Dr. Doug van Nort @ TML, Ozzie and Prof. Chris Ziegler @ AME.  Let's not second-guess or over-engineer -- please get sound deterministically coupled to co-movement happening as soon as possible -- CRUDE BUT PALPABLE is good.  Then you'll refine rapidly.

Agreed. Sound is a great medium for this work and also for detecting
problems in the timing and resolution of the sensing. Map parameters you
are worried
about noise and dynamic range of PITCH. Match timing to short, 
percussive HITS. Have the performer where the sound output otherwise you
are modulating
the delay structure with the movement in the room. sound: 1ms/foot