Gerda Antanaityte

FINAL PROJECT. DEAF DROPS

antanaityte.gerda@iaac.net — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 10:32:34 +0000

#15 signal amplifying circuit

antanaityte.gerda@iaac.net — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 20:18:46 +0000

#14 testing geophone 2

antanaityte.gerda@iaac.net — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 08:07:59 +0000

Next experiment was to test built amplified sensor signal’s circuit. Results weren’t stunning. Seems like it’s precise calibration requires much more time.

After it Furqan helped to test geophone’s sensitivity regarding to levels of low frequencies. Speaker was playing inaudible audio. The frequency was always the same (25hz). Even though we couldn’t hear anything it was obvious from led’s bar that decibels are going higher (test is on the video).

p.s. It was 2nd test , not 46th!

#13 Testing Geophone

antanaityte.gerda@iaac.net — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:49:33 +0000

After the very long journey geophone sensor finally arrived. Hopefully it will help to improve the project and detect low frequency vibrations. Here are it’s first tests.

#12 interface

antanaityte.gerda@iaac.net — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 14:25:53 +0000

Interface for transmitting tones as a code.
In the background of the video you can hear street noise to which interface reacts. It detects only the lowest range of frequencies (0-80 hz). Three bars determines volume level (dB). Each bar takes 24 random tones. The white bar represents the whole range of levels.

#11 reflections

antanaityte.gerda@iaac.net — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 16:18:54 +0000

1. What initially inspired this line of research?

Invisible sounds are part of the nature. It exist in our environment thus influencing human health and behaviors. But since human audible range is not capable to detect them, the issue is not sufficiently brought up. Proposed solution to the issue is to create and implement public tool that allows precept low frequency noise. Specific technology applied to urban context expands perceptual audible limits of urban sonic environment. At the same time it generates an experience that provides information about noise state in specific area. The project is focused on interest in experimenting technologies that are capable to analyze, transform and harmonize incoming sounds.

2. Input→process→output

input: non audible low frequency waves.
transducer: geophone sensor, PC software (maxMSP)
output: transformed and harmonized sound

3. Your project generates some kind of feedback or is just a reactive piece. Could you describe these levels of interaction or feedback?

Deaf-drops is local independent sensoring network that involves society to be aware what is happening in the environment. Data sharing method is based on espionage dead-drop concept. Sensor ports installed in public spaces are micro devices that stores essential data for receiving data and provides ability to have live audible experience.

Since these sounds are invisible, converting them into specific soundscapes is subjective matter. The goal is to create legible language which is capable to capture essential qualities of incoming data and provide it for open use. That people with different perceptions and cultural backgrounds would be able to use it and create personal and the most comprehensible embodiment of invisible sounds.

#10 Remapping Sound

antanaityte.gerda@iaac.net — Thu, 30 May 2013 13:05:38 +0000

Here are some tests how to harmonize incoming noise

#9 infrasound test

antanaityte.gerda@iaac.net — Sat, 25 May 2013 15:10:18 +0000

This week we had tutorials with David Dalmazzo which considerably pushed forward projects. My experiments were based on sound recording and trying to build low budget infrasonic device. Following this tutorial I’ve modified dynamic microphone by adding syringe and plastic tube which allowed to detect low frequences. Here’s how it looks like (quite an instrument, no? : )

max MSP patch to analyze sounds

noise recordings

#8 sound experiments

antanaityte.gerda@iaac.net — Thu, 23 May 2013 08:32:36 +0000

Last Wednesday we went to Poblenou park and made some recordings: close to the chimney, in open area and in the water

#7 Auscultation

antanaityte.gerda@iaac.net — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 20:38:13 +0000

During the history human were looking ways how to enhance hearing sense. American Indians used to put their ear on the ground to listen if flocks are coming. Japanese still keep fish tanks which may report that earthquake is coming when human body is still unable to detect it. Stethoscope is another instrument which is used to determine unusual sounds in the body. I really liked it’s definition in Wikipedia: the stethoscope is an acoustic medical device for auscultation, or listening to the internal sounds of an animal or human body. It is often used to listen to lung and heart sounds. It is also used to listen to intestines and blood flow in arteries and veins. In architectural language cities also have lung (green areas), heart (center), arteries and veins (infrastructure).

What could be the instrument listen to the city health when human senses are too weak? And how it would sound?