velosynth

velosynth attaches to the bicycle with two bungee loops that wrap around the top and down tubes of the bicycle.

a 3d-printed holster attaches a magnet to a spoke, which is detected by a sensor on the fork. both speed and acceleration can be interpreted into auditory feedback using a modular, patchable digital synthesizer circuit.

the enclosure is made from two vacuum-formed plastic shells that are hinged along a shared boundary with packing tape. hook-and-loop fastener covers the inside, allowing the components and modules to be configured as necessary.

interact

use the movement of your bicycle to control a synthesizer. you can patch it so that the faster you go, the higher the pitch or to make a big wooshing sound as you round a corner. make your presence heard when riding nearby unaware pedestrians.

augment

since the primary interface is auditory, these sounds can become not only musical but also full of useful data. a specific melody could be triggered as you head due north, helping to augment your natural sense of direction.

network

tiny packets of data can be exchanged between bicycles through a microlocal wireless network. program it to transmit melodies and rhythms amongst your fellow cyclists or to communicate messages within a large group (or critical mass).

a hall-effect sensor attached to the fork detects the presence of a magnet fixed to a spoke of the front wheel. a three-axis accelerometer within the enclosure can be used to detect turning, leaning, and tilting. sensor data is collected and transmogrified by the cpu, which provides both audio and visual feedback.

audio feedback is created using a digital oscillator circuit that is controlled by a digital potentiometer connected to the cpu. its output is amplified and sent to the speaker.

visual feedback is negotiated through a 4-digit, 7-segment display that shines through the skin of the enclosure. additional LEDs can also be added and controlled by the CPU.

make it your own

we've tackled the hard part of figuring out what components to use and how to quickly attach and detach it to your bicycle. in fact, the whole system has been designed to be modified to fit your own needs. it's a framework ready for hacking!

rapid prototyping

velosynth makes use of tiny, reusable breadboard modules rather than printed circuit boards. this keeps the focus on experimentation and allows you to easily reconfigure and rapidly prototype new interactions, without having to solder.

open source hardware

the physical designs, hardware and software that power velosynth are released under a creative commons sharealike license. we encourage you to remix, adapt, and modify these ideas, and only ask that you share your work in a similar manner.

we're very excited to offer a super-alpha, hella-low-level kit. this release is primarily aimed at hacker-savvy cyclists familiar with microcontrollers, electronics, and programming.

it is our hope that these kits end up in the hands of creative, self-starting individuals keen on sharing their ideas and documenting their work. we believe in open source and need your help to explore the possibilities of bicycle-based computing!

for $100, we'll send you a kit with almost everything you need to get started. for $250, we'll build one, patch it, and provide you a reasonable amount of support. just click the button below to visit the kickstarter page and place your order today.

NOTICE: kits and preassembled units currently are sold out, but we are offering an enclosure kit for $20. this kit includes the chassis, bungee cords, mounting velcro, a 3D-printed spoke magnet holder, magnets, and a hall effect sensor. add your own hardware and electronics! click the button below:

velosynth was initiated and is presently maintained by EFFALO, a research + design collaborative headquartered in Portland, Oregon.

EFFALO was chartered to synthesize, modulate, and deploy multimodal interaction environments that promote expressive feedback between humans and technology.