The Musical Tiki Masks

For this project our team, which was comprised of Charles Price, James Clement, and Fisher Hensley, created three wearable Tiki masks. These Tiki masks are meant to be displayed in large, large areas where spontaneous movement is usually not expected (or allowed). When worn by a group of three people, together they can create wacky, high-tempo music just by moving their bodies. And when these musical Tiki masks are not being worn, they can be displayed as the colorful works of art that they are. Waiting for the next group of curious, future musicians to don them.

Each mask was first sketched and drawn using Photoshop. Each mask was then given to a chosen team member to print and construct. Each team member was responsible for printing each mask out (on regular 8.5" X 11" printer paper), turning them into wearable masks, and programming the boards which would then be attached to the front. Each masks, using Microsoft MakeCode, utilizes its own unique combination of inputs and outputs. Similar to a band with instruments, the idea for this interactive project is for a group of people to wear these masks and, by shaking their bodies/heads, making loud noises, flashing lights, and touching their face, make some interesting music. All three Tiki masks utilize light sensors in some fashion. When quickly exposed to darkness and lightness the green mask, which is similar to a drum beat with its repetitive tones, changes several different colors. When the red and blue Tiki masks are exposed to extreme brightness, their LEDs change color and they play two different harmonies. The Blue and Red masks also utilize the CPX's on board capacitive touch pins, and accelerometers to detect if the wearer is shaking or touching their head, and responds with different melodies and light patterns. While the blue Tiki mask uses metal extensions to further the immersion of the capacitive touch pins, the red Tiki masks has several distinct sounds that play based on the mask's orientation.