Pierre Fredenucci

Process

This project was carried out within a team of five people, mixing undergraduate students and graduate students from various backgrounds. We followed the designing process with three main steps:

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     - First we discovered what was 3D sound by going out of the building to test the material we had for the challenge. We recorded various type of sounds in natural spaces and in buildings.

 

     - Then we used human-centered design methods to write down our value statement based on the guidelines given by Bose. From this value statement we brainstormed numerous concepts. Considering the requirements we had to meet, we collectively chose the ideas that answered them the most.

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     - Finally we split in two groups: the first one designed the application and the user interface experience while the second one focused on designing the hardware (the team I was in). CAD modelling was done using the software Fusion 360 from Autodesk.

We designed a headphones with removable microphones linked to a smartphone application. While the microphones enable the user to record sound in the nature, the application enables the user to listen to these sounds with different perspectives. In particular:

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     - it changes the sound to illustrate how the ear work by modifying the direction it comes from, turning off one ear, put delay etc. 

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     - it can "chipmunkify" these recorded sounds

 

     - it enables the user to mix the different sounds he recorded 

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With Sound Catcher, the user is encouraged to discover nature and its sounds and is educated on how his ears work. We added features to make this education fun for him. Finally, we also included a volume control to rassure parents that this device will not affect their ears.

The Master of Engineering program at UC Berkeley organised a design challenge sponsored by Bose. The theme was "Audio and Education". We had to "incorporate earbuds, headphones, microphones, and software to record, transform, explore, and listen to the world around you. Age: 8-12 years old.".

Challenge