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High-Tech Winduino II Turns Breezes to Ballads, Backhands Windchimes

by Matthew Zuras on January 25, 2010 at 06:10 PM

We're big fans of innovative electronic instruments, especially ones that look past the idea of human interaction and incorporate random input. Design outfit Fascination Workshop just unveiled its new prototype of the Winduino II, an electronic instrument that creates sound from wind. The company describes its creation as "a wireless, digital version of an Aeolian harp."

The Winduino II is solar-powered and Bluetooth-enabled via an Arduino motherboard, and can be hung either outside (weather permitting, we'd imagine) or indoors. Incorporating vellum fins equipped with piezo sensors, the Winduino II essentially measures pressure and acceleration, converts them into an electric signal, and makes nature-generated noise. The video below shows the Winduino II playing an atmospheric loop, but the installed 'Max for Live' software can generate any number of sounds. So, just kick back and let the zephyrs do the work.

We don't love the design (it has a UFO-made-from-a-tree-trunk quality) but the function is what matters here. We're pretty sure Brian Eno would love to have one -- as would we. [From: Fascination Workshop, via: PSFK)

Tags: bluetooth, design, fascination workshop, FascinationWorkshop, instrument, music, solar, top, winduino II, WinduinoIi, wireless

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