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Jazari: The Wiimote-Controlled Robotic Drum Circle

by Caleb Johnson on February 23, 2010 at 06:00 PM

The Nintendo Wii controller, or the Wiimote as it's become affectionately known, has a lot of uses besides just controlling video games. For example, it can inflict some serious damage if you're not careful, or even help out with the yard work. But the latest development in Wii technology is none too pleasing for one reason: it's bound to inspire some terrible frat-boy dancing.

According to PopSci, Patrick Flanagan rigged two Wiimotes to play drums in a robot band called Jazari. Not only can the robot play with other bots or solo, but Flanagan also programmed the device to respond to a human-played drumbeat -- creating one of the nerdiest drum circles of all time. The Wiimote buttons control how high or low of a tone you're playing on the drums, tilting the controller up or down controls volume, and turning the controller to the side while pressing a button changes the repeating beat anywhere from quarter notes to 32nd notes.

As for us, we're just hoping this doesn't catch on. With their lazy lifestyle, penchant for junk food, and lack of fashion sense, gamers aren't far from being classified as hippies. If the Wiimote drum circle takes off, it's a slippery slope to tie-dyed shirts, sandals made from hemp, and God knows what else. [From: PopSci]

Tags: drums, jazari, music, nintendo, nintendowii, robot, top, wii, wiimote

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