Final Project: beatSteppers

Steppers were designed to get kids up on their feet, moving, and playing with sound and music. An external sensor sandal is worn over a child’s shoes, noting each footstep, and, in real time, playing back sound effects/music to compliment their movements. Force sensing resistors housed in each sandal wirelessly transmit information back to a computer, which then broadcasts sounds over an FM radio chip that accompany each footstep. Users hear the sounds that they create over an ordinary radio, or through FM headphones.

As a group, we hoped to make a toy that not only encouraged physical activity, but that also acted a clear and direct musical interface. Steppers transform walking, dancing, running, and jumping into a unique and dynamic activity, allowing the user to express themselves audibly through their movements.

Technique:

Xbee soldered on board, sewed into a thick fabric strip, which can tied on kids or adults’ legs. On the station side, computer run maxmsp program to generate the sound, and broadcast to headphones or sound speakers by radio FM.

The Steppers User Scenario:

1) Strap the Stepper Sensor Sandals to your feet.
2) Walk, dance, move, jump!
3) Enjoy the sounds/music that you make! Select sound effects to compliment movements, transforming every day activities into a new experience, or using instrument samples, move in time to preprogrammed beats, creating music through movement.
4) Get a friend, give them steppers, and make music/noise together!
5) For a more personal experience, put your wireless FM headphones on, or listen to the sounds you make on the radio.

prototype pictures: