Exploration multimodal interactions :: Acoustics

Our aim was to create a surface that changes its form – and therefore acoustic character – in response to multi-modal input including sound, stereoscopic vision, multi-touch, and brainwaves. The sculpture was then built to utilize the rigging infrastructure and acoustically inert environment of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center. This allowed for the designers to perceive the movement of the reactive surface in reality. Manta explores variability and responsiveness in the surface itself, advancing acoustic systems beyond individual elements and corrective treatment.

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Manta is comprised of CNC machined panels and connectors of two different thicknesses of high-density polyethylene, and the curved forms result from a combination of triangulation and bending stiffness: geometry and material in concert. The result is a controlled morphing that is suspended at a minimum of points. As the user adjusts the preferences of the acoustical environment, the Manta morphs in real time to accommodate the user's needs.

Manta was designed and fabricated as part of the SmartGeometry 2012 Conference .