Sonumbra, a Sonic Shade of Light
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 04.17.08
Photo Credit: Loop.ph
It looks like Loop.ph, a UK-based design research studio, has (re)created the perfect tree: by day, it offers shelter from the sun: by night, it sheds light for the local community, using the energy collected in solar cells embedded in its canopy. Its name: Sonumbra. It is a ‘sonic shade of light’ as the designers Rachel Wingfield & Mathias Gmachl like to describe it.
Made from electroluminescent lace, a camera, speakers and software, Sonumbra explores a new role for textiles, while responding to global ecological concerns. Designed as a responsive play space in Mowbray Park, Sunderland, the electroluminescent tree responds to the interplay and activity of the people orbiting the umbrella by casting a sonic shade of light. The visitor’s movement creates an atmosphere of musical rhythms, harmonies and luminous patterns, translating each person’s exact location into sound and light. Watch the video here. As seen at Design and the Elastic Mind at MoMA. ::Loop.ph
why not use the same system draped around a tree? would look pretty cool... an normal tree at daytime, a glowing tree at night...
I'm guessing electroluminescent lace is just their fancy name for EL-wire.
Think of the power saving if all future Christmas Illuminations were made using this technology...