Exploring sound, textiles with the help of some electronics
Workshop Part 1 – Sound of textiles – Craft
The aim was to explore the sounds of textiles, using electronics to amplify them.
The activity used piezo disks in conjunction with textiles to generate sound. Piezo disks are used to create contact microphones. Unlike the microphones you typically use, piezo disks only generate sound through physical interactions like tapping or vibration against the piezo disk. Piezo disks work because piezoelectric materials generate electricity when under physical stress. These electrical signals are amplified by the amp.
Participants also recorded sounds generated during the crafting process, such as the sound of needle punching and hand sewing.
Workshop Part 2 – Sound of textiles – Interaction
The aim was to explore how to create different e-textiles and their interactions that can be used to create sounds.
Participants were introduced to e-textiles, namely sensing e-textiles (electronic textiles) made from a conductive material, as well as the BBC Micro:bit microcontroller. The Micro:bit was loaded up with code that translates e-textile interactions into different sounds.
E-textiles provide a novel way of generating sound, through a soft interface with unusual form. It highlights the relationship between physical structure, electrical resistance, and the role of programming in creating electronic sounds.
Exhibition
Interactive Textiles artifacts and images from the workshop were exhibited in the Bath House Galleries at the University of Huddersfield from 15th to 30th May 2023.
