New wearable technology allows everyone to enjoy music—even if they can’t hear it. The device is a suit made up of a vest, ankle straps, and wristbands. It relies on haptic technology to convert music into vibrations people can feel.
A computer turns sound waves into instructions for how the suit should vibrate, explains Daniel Belquer, a composer who helped create the device. The instructions are transmitted to the suit’s 24 actuators, which turn electrical signals into vibrations. The computer controls the location, frequency, and strength of sensations. A drumbeat might thump on the ankles, while a guitar riff might vibrate the chest.
Belquer worked with the deaf community to develop this tech. The vibrations aren’t a perfect translation of music. Instead, they create an experience that hearing, hard-of-hearing, and deaf people can all enjoy, says Belquer. “The skin becomes a canvas for artistic expression.”