Under the Couch

A musical experience of interaction with the mysterious habitat beneath the couch.

Touch sensor

Electret microphone

prompt

Habitat

Coaches & collaborators

institute

Betzalel Academy Jerusalem

What beneath the couch resides? Among dust bunnies and things that hide? Where things are lost and then forgot, And sometimes left there to rot. It starts to sing when light grows dim, and waits for you to play with him. When you come close, a growl it sings, And if you touch, it just might scream. But if you wish your lost to find, And on it you a light will shine. Its song goes quiet as a mouse, Your musical friend under the couch.

process & design

Project images

No items found.

the tech

How does it work?

All sensors are connected to the bottom of the couch. A light sensors near the front senses when the room light is dim and begins to play the basic music. A proximity sensor near the back makes the music grow dramatically as it senses something coming close. A light sensor in the center turns off the music entirely when it senses a strong light and a touch sensor makes the music exclaim differently every time the wires that run across the bottom of the couch are touched.

Open source code

Click here to grab this project's code

Touch sensor

A touch capacitance sensor can detect anything that is conductive

Electret microphone

Record or detect audio gain (volume) changes