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Sound Sculpt Sesitheseise sa Mmino se Sebetsanang by Yiqi Zhao

Sound Sculpt Sesitheseise sa Mmino se Sebetsanang by Yiqi Zhao is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Moputso oa Tšepe oa A' Design Award in Bonono ba Dijithale Competition Category.


TšepeBonono ba Dijithale· 2025

Sound Sculpt Sesitheseise sa Mmino se Sebetsanang

by Yiqi Zhao

Client: MIT Media Lab

Moputso oa Tšepe oa A' Design Award Winner in Bonono ba Dijithale Category

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The Design

About Sound Sculpt Sesitheseise sa Mmino se Sebetsanang

Nahana ka lefatshe moo modumo o bopiwang ke motsamao, o hlolang sebōpeho sa modumo le pono se khahlisang haholo. SoundSculpt ke sesebeliswa sa mmino se hlahisang se kopanyang modumo wa sebaka, motsamao, le bonono ba pono. E tsoang kgutlhong ho bōpa ba setso, e matlafatsa basebelisi hore ba be bohareng ba tshebetso ya bona ya boqapi. Ka AR Frames, motsamao wa hlooho o tshwarwa mme o fetolelwa phetohong ya modumo ya nako ya nnete ka mokhoa wa MIDI. E hlahisitswe hodima runtime engine, SoundSculpt e fana ka boiphihlelo bo keneletseng bo fefosang melelwane pakeng tsa moqapi le sebopiwa, bo hlalositshang hape batlisiso ba bonono.

The Recognition

About the Moputso oa Tšepe oa A' Design Award

Sound Sculpt Sesitheseise sa Mmino se Sebetsanang ke mohapi oa Moputso oa Tšepe oa A' Design Award, kananelo e hlomphehang e fuoang meralo e metle e finyellang litlhoko tsa porofeshenale le tsa indasteri tse lebelletsoeng ho lintho tse hlahisitsoeng tse entsoeng hantle. Bahapi ba Tšepe ba bontša bokhoni bo boholo, bokhethehi bo phahameng, kutloisiso ea litsebi le bokhoni ba boqapi ba baqapi ba bona. Sound Sculpt Sesitheseise sa Mmino se Sebetsanang e lebelletsoe ho ba ntho e hlahisitsoeng e hlomphuoang haholo, e ratoang le e ratehang, e sebetsang le e nang le mehopolo e mecha. Moralo ona o hapileng Moputso oa Tšepe oa A' Design Award o kenyelletsa mekhoa e metle ka ho fetesisa ea indasteri mme o na le litšobotsi tsa theknoloji tse nang le bokhoni tse amanang le tsebo le talenta. Ka lebaka la botlalo ba eona, Sound Sculpt Sesitheseise sa Mmino se Sebetsanang e tšoanelehela tlhompho mme e entsoe ho fana ka ntlafatso ea bophelo e thusang ho etsa hore lefatše le be sebaka se molemo.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties
Revolutionizing Perception through Immersive Music Making
Imagine sculpting with sound, where body movement generates a mesmerizing audio visual landscape. SoundSculpt is an innovative, generative music tool that fuses spatial sound, motion, and visual art, redefining the boundaries of creative expression. By harnessing the power of Bose AR Frame, this interface enhances perception performance, providing a novel medium for artistic exploration, emotional regulation, and mental well being.
Dimensions & Packaging
The system uses a MIDI framework to map Bose Frames' head orientation data to sound pitch and volume, then transferred to virtual bubble manipulation is achieved through touch inputs with C# scripts. The integration of synesthesia principles enhances sensory perception, creating a holistic flow that bridges the gap between physical and digital art forms.
Size: 7.2 x 3.1 x 2.9 inches
Weight: 12.31 ounces
Lenses: Polarized
Water Resistance: IPX2 rating
Battery Life: Up to 5.5 hours
Bluetooth Range: 30ft
Tags
AI, generative AI, spatial audio, digital media, unity, music, wearable tech, Bose, XR, AR
Production Technology
SoundSculpt employs XR tech, integrating spatial audio and visual processing for immersive experiences. Bose Frames, with gyro sensors, capture 6 dof head movements, translating them into real-time audio modulation via a MIDI framework. Developed on Unity with C# scripts, it enables real-time user interaction. Mesh deformation and vertex manipulation allow dynamic bubble surface control, creating a responsive interface that enhances engagement and emotional connection.
Design Challenge
The hardest part was integrating multi sensory feedback into a seamless flow. Creatively, it was challenging to synchronize audio-visual elements with inputs in real-time. Internally, balancing human vulnerabilities, historical concepts with modern tech required innovative thinking. Externally, limitations in sensor accuracy and data processing posed obstacles. Overcoming these required iterative testing and leveraging cutting-edge XR technology to ensure fluid interaction and emotional impact.
Research
This HCI research aims to develop an immersive tool for emotion regulation. Using a mixed reality approach, data was collected via user testing and biometric feedback with Bose Glasses and Real-time 3D engine. Participants included designers and non-designers. Results showed enhanced perception of spatial volume, sound, and motion, with a more stable emotion stage. Insights suggest adoption in psychiatry with art therapy, impacting society by improving emotional well-being with playful creation.
Inspiration
SoundSculpt is inspired by the tactile art of sculpting, where shaping materials evokes profound emotional expression. Echoing ancient pottery, where your hands transform raw material into art, SoundSculpt revolutionizes this dynamic by turning it inside out, empowering users to become integral to the creative process. By integrating spatial audio and visual art, I offer you an immersive experience that blurs the boundaries between creator and creation, redefining interaction for a new era.
Project Duration
The project began in fall 2019 at the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge, MA, and concluded in summer 2020. It was subsequently exhibited to the Bose Frame AR team at Bose Corporation in Framingham, MA.
Operation Flow
SoundSculpt immerses users within a virtual bubble, enabling them to shape its surface through intuitive gestures. As they tilt their heads or press buttons, Bose Frames capture these actions, converting them into dynamic audio-visual feedback. This interaction fosters a seamless cycle of "listen," "sculpt," and "art generation," empowering users to transform their environment. The system's innovative design ensures a fluid, captivating experience that boosts creativity and emotional well-being.
Patents
Copyrights belong to Yiqi Zhao, 2025.
Image Credits
Image 1: Yiqi Zhao, 2024.
Image 2: Yiqi Zhao, 2024.
Image 3: Yiqi Zhao, 2024.
Image 4: Yiqi Zhao, 2024.
Image 5: Yiqi Zhao, 2024.
Video Credits: Yiqi Zhao, 2024.

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