SOMI-1: A new wearable motion tracker by Instruments of Things
The German manufacturer Instruments of Things has revealed an exciting new project in the form of their Kickstarter campaign for the SOMI-1. This wearable sensor technology promises some exciting possibilities, allowing precise movement tracking and communication via Bluetooth. Their previous projects, 2.4SINK and IO-Lights have shown this is certainly no fad, nor are they newcomers to the world of innovation.
Designing the SOMI-1
The main functional aspects of the SOMI-1 are found in its Bluetooth 5 equipped motion sensors and the receiver it requires to track your movements and transmit the data to another device. This interaction could be with a laptop, smartphone, or MIDI instrument, depending on the configuration or scale of your setup. The smartphone app instantly turns your Android or iOS device into an instrument with various selectable presets. The sensors can be worn on your wrists or ankles and also attached to a microphone or drum sticks to make use of the movement tracking vector.
A motion-sensing movement
Performance-wise, the SOMI-1 system uses eight separate movement parameters for each of its sensors, allowing a myriad of different controller data to be sent simultaneously in just a single movement. Controller assignments depend on the level of creativity and sonic depth you wish to achieve. Trigger individual notes or samples, variate pitch, control specific parameters like filter frequency or aux send amount, or mute and unmute different channels. Up to six sensors can be utilized at once, so it certainly provides plenty to play with.
SOMI-1 offers performance-orientated possibilities · Source: Instruments of Things
The receiver hub is available separately and is also cross-compatible with the 2.4SINK sensors. It comes equipped with USB and MIDI outs via TRS, allowing the control of a range of different devices and instruments, and would also integrate nicely into a DAW environment like Ableton Live. The SOMI-1 is now available for pre-order from the Instruments of Things Kickstarter page, starting at 379 Euros. The waiting period is rather lengthy, but you’re sure to be rewarded with plenty of fun and be one of the first to put the system to use. It really isn’t hard to imagine the practical application of a device like this in various areas of the creative or performance aspects of music, so things are looking positive for Instruments of Things in the future.
More about Instruments of Things and the SOMI-1:
Videos:
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https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/instrumentsofthings/somi-1-turn-your-movements-into-sound?ref=video
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