Spatial Sound Board
The fabric serves as a blank sound based slate. Users can add set phrases, either from a database or pre-manufactured. Different “packs” or ranges of phrases (such as greetings, statements, questions, responses, endings etc) could be bought/downloaded for themes or personalities. Personal or unique sounds could be recorded and assigned, or recorded on the spot with an inbuilt microphone. Different coloured pins could allow categorisation, and spatial layout could represent grouping. Personalised labels could be written on a small blank slate/rewriteable mini whiteboard surface on each pin to assign a cue to content. Could be accompanied with marker pen.
PACT Analysis
People: Many possible users, adults, kids. No specific language requirement, universal. Requires language competency and normal hearing.
Could be used by kids/adults as a fun personal sound generator, or record someone “live”. Could be used by musicians to record different parts of a song and spatially/sequentially order them. Could be used by professionals when presenting a tangible or interactive “brainstorm” or audible key points of a system.
Activities: More emphasis on organisation of sound spatially, not as heavy on learning. Selecting desired phrase, and playing back to self or others. Grouping pins into different areas, recording new sounds/clips. Generating sentences or phrases, or moving pins in a line. Selecting appropriate responses to a live respondent (e.g. a prank call!).
Contexts: Potential use in many contexts, depending on use. If more “serious” use (e.g. music lyrics), then classroom/studios. If more jovial (e.g. joke responses), then home or social environments. Would work well with individuals or groups dependant on context. Portable and moveable to different locations, especially for live recordings. Main emphasis could be either single or 1 on 1. would be inappropriate in some situations (e.g. workplace or school) if used for recording other peoples voices and playing back for joke purposes.
Technology: The pins could store the sound themselves, especially as sounds recorded would be more unique depending on person and context. Perhaps more suited to holding an ID for a phrase. The board would ideally serve as a tangible input device, as well as the output device. A link to a PC with GUI would be used if uploading/downloading profiles/sounds. Communication with PC/ language database recognises ID and activates phrase. Standalone phrases recorded via inbuilt microphone chip (medium/low bit rate) with playback via speaker. Should be accessible to most people, no major technological setup required.