Cybraphon

Experiment (May Well Arise) from Cybraphon on Vimeo.

Ok, so you may be looking at this and thinking: "is that wardrobe playing music?" The answer: yup. There's several things about the cybraphon that make it interesting. One is that its a mechanical device, programmed by some sort of hidden macbook which uses software called Python and (yes, you guessed it) MaxMSP. It receives MIDI, amongst other information which is then converted to physical movement. This thing has a squeeze box, keyboard, vinyl player, bells and other percussive junk, not to mention its synchronised lighting.

It also has an "emotion meter" represented by an antique galvanometer (a type of ammeter - device for measuring current in an electrical circuit.) With all the egotism and image concern of a human band, it checks its reviews and its comments on all the major sites including facebook, twitter and youtube, altering its mood depending on whether people are saying nice or nasty things about. It then picks from a range of pre-programmed songs, based on how "happy" its feeling.

Further anthropomorphisms include its abilities to know if you are watching. It has motion sensors so starts playing its tune when you approach it.

And finally, come ON! it's a friggin' Cupboard that plays music. It's classy design has won it a nomination for a scottish BAFTA. http://bit.ly/PMOsG