Ambisynth – Monitoring Room Climate with Generative Modular Synthesizers
Markus Berger, Joern Ploennigs · 2024
When engaged in focused work, it can be easy to forget about ambient comfort factors, like high CO2 concentrations or bad lighting conditions. Ambient Information Systems can help us passively monitor such parameters, but often have the downside of intrusive notifcation sounds or requiring visual feedback. In this paper, we propose to subtly communicate sensor information as part of generative ambient background music. This genre has recently been popularized through modular hardware synthesizers, which create music by processing analog voltage signals. We combine these modules with analog room climate sensors to create an “Ambient Information Instrument”, which will sonify the climate conditions of any room, without requiring digital processing or code. Aspects of the music become more noticeable as sensor readings exceed a set comfort range. Knobs and sliders on the synthesizer modules allow room occupants to interactively change and adjust the music being played.