Keyboard Six Pack
Wearable Exploration: Sound
A wearable instrument inspired by idealized muscular structure. I wanted to find a fun way to incorporate sound on the body. Pressing each ab triggers a different note produced by a piezo buzzer placed on the belly button.
Inspiration
I built this as part of a class assignment exploring sound. I started thinking about instruments and how it would be fun to play an instrument on my body. I had previously made a couple keyboards using Arduino and a piezo speaker. I started thinking about how I could recreate this as a wearable.
![keyboard sixpack](imgs/wearables/wearables_sixpack_keyboard.gif)
I thought it would be fun to tap on my belly to produce music and then it occurred to me that I could create a six-pack of buttons that would produce different sounds. My Floridian upbringing has taught me that people love to show off their six-packs at the beach, so I imagine this instrument would be a hit at beach parties. A marketable version would be water-proof, SPF 30, and sound like steel drums.
![keyboard sixpack](imgs/wearables/wearables_sixpack_inspiration.jpg)
Fabrication
I started by drawing some abs on a mannequin to make a pattern.
![keyboard sixpack](imgs/wearables/wearables_sixpack_fab1.jpg)
Then I cut them out of muslin and tried them on myself. Oops, this lo-fi selfie almost make them look real!
![keyboard sixpack](imgs/wearables/wearables_sixpack_fab2.jpg)
I traced them onto some fusible interfacing web so I could attach the conductive fabric to some jersey fabric. I also attached conductive fabric to the muslin. These would act as the two sides on my fabric buttons.
![keyboard sixpack](imgs/wearables/wearables_sixpack_fab3.jpg)
To make my fabric buttons I cut holes into foam and placed it in between conductive fabric. I had to resew the connections a few times, because I initially got my circuitry mixed up. I learned a lot about sewing with resistors.
I soldered the piezo and some metal snaps to a breadboard so it could be removable. A future version would need to be water-proof to be safe near the ocean and pool, and at the very least have detachable parts so it could be washed.
![keyboard sixpack](imgs/wearables/wearables_sixpack_fab4.gif)
The current version uses an Arduino Uno and has to be plugged in, but it would not be difficult to recreate it with a Flora and a battery.
![keyboard sixpack](imgs/wearables/wearables_sixpack_fab5.jpg)
I created a stretchy green outer layer with extra foam for more definition based on this tutorial for a child’s Halloween costume. I kinda look like a Ninja Turtle.
![keyboard sixpack](imgs/wearables/wearables_sixpack_finished.jpg)