Soniq Shell

Soniq Shell is a wearable device that provides real-time audio and visual feedback to users while they skate. The interactive device was part of a three man team that was featured in “PILOT SK.8”; an event held by the Sydney’s Inner West Council at the Sydenham Green skate park. Master students from the University of Sydney were tasked with designing interactive installations/projects that focused either on the skaters, observers, or passersby. Soniq Shell is worn on the back of the skater and seeks to provide users with an immersive and interactive experience as they skate. Because different audio and visual elements are influenced by specific movements of the skater, users are not only able to produce music as they skate around, but they are also given an opportunity to experience skating in a way they never have before.

After much success from the event, the device was commissioned for a second event, which will be held in August 2019. It is currently undergoing a re-design. My responsibility involved with the project included the design and fabrication of the physical wearable device, as well as, the incorporation and coding of the visual elements.

Physical Shell

The 3d printed casing is roughly 8.5” x 6.5” and is designed to be worn on the back of the users. It weighs roughly 2 lbs and houses all of the audio and visual components. The housed components include: Bluetooth speaker, IMU sensor (iPhone), microphone sensor, batteries, Neo-pixel ring, arduino board, etc. The oval design was chosen for both the organic and sleek look, but also the form was less obtrusive/uncomfortable to the skater; after user testing.

System

The built-in IMU sensor inside the iPhone, allows us to track the phone’s specific force, angular rate, and orientation. And because the phone is housed inside the shell, which is placed on the back of the skater, we are able to keep track of the skater’s orientation at any moment he/she is skating.

That orientation data is then mapped to any given audio track/sounds we like, which is then played out from the Bluetooth speaker. (example: if the skater leans forward, a specific sound is produced, if they lean backwards, another sound is produced, if they rotate to the left, another sound is produced….etc.). The Skater’s movements also influence the color of the LEDs. Essentially, this allows the skater to create an array of sounds and audio tracks, as well as various lights, in real time, as they are skating.

The LED ring brightens and dims based off the amplitude of the sound produced from the speakers.

Soniq Shell v2

A redesign of Soniq Shell was commisioned for an upcoming event in August 2019. This event is planned to have multiple skaters wearing the device performing a choreographed set throughout a skate park.

The redesign is larger so that it can house a more efficient internal system, as well as incorporates a new adjustable harness system. Other notable changes are that the visual elements are no longer controlled by sound, but are also linked to the users movements/orientation (imu sensor). The iPhone was also eliminated in this design, and was replaced by an actual imu sensor.

The design is still undergoing iterations and user testing and will be projected to be completed withing the upcoming weeks.