Wearable, solar-powered synthesizer
The Square Band is a portable, wearable, monophonic, solar-powered synthesizer. It’s meant to be worn around the wrist like a bracelet or watch, and has 8 buttons which trigger different notes in different octaves.
It’s got a built-in sensor that works like a pseudo-theremin that is used to change the pitch of the note that is currently sounding – sort of like the Roland D-Beam controller.
The idea is that as you wear it during the day, the flexible solar panels that are part of the Square Band generate power that is stored by the device (presumably in some sort of battery), allowing you to break into a synth solo whenever you want. Charge it up by day, rip it by at night.
Operating wrist-based electronics tells onlookers “Yes, I’m from the future.” – and when those electronics generate and control sound via light, no one will doubt it.
What does it sound like? Well, like this:
This is a run through of each button and its corresponding tone:
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This is the tone of each button being pitch shifted via the onboard light sensor:
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You just have to have one now, don’t you? Well, don’t count on it right away. The Square Band isn’t being produced for sale … yet. We’ll announce when it’s available, so get on our subscription list, RSS Feed or follow us on Twitter and we’ll let you know when you can get one.
Interesting. You could team it with an 8 light mode solar fairy light strand and create your own disco!