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Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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Dr. Bob's idea sounds a little more complicated than it needs to be.
First of all, rather than re-invent the wheel, can the folks at
Minnesota share their design?   Otherwise, from what I know of MIDI
interfaces, it should be pretty easy to connect an array of photo
sensors (one for each step) to a MIDI interface, mapped so that sensor 1
= MIDI value 1, etc.  If you need help, Bob, I can identify specific
brands and sources for the right interface.

As far as connecting it to a pipe organ, that could be built around MIDI
machine control, in which this protocol is adapted to control motors,
etc.  Again, I could dig up specific brands and sources if you need it.
Probably best to contact me off list.

It is a nice surprising interactive, though the connection with
chemistry is not immediately obvious...

Eric Siegel
Director of Planning
   & Program Development
Connections Project Director
New York Hall of Science
47-01 111th Street
Queens, NY 11368
[log in to unmask]
www.nyscience.org

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Informal Science Education Network
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Bowditch
> Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 1:53 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: musical staircase exhibit
>
>
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of
> Science-Technology Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network
> of science museums and related institutions.
> **************************************************************
> ***************
>
> Hi all,
>
> This is neat project. I told him that we had such staircase
> and that it runs very well. The college is St. Olof's  which
> has a noted music school. I therefore suggested they consider
> tying the staircase to a small pipe organ. Then the whole
> thing could be very grand (a grand staircase?) and fun too.
> The mechanics behind doing this aren't complicated and the
> Physics behind pipes is sort of fun. Anyone ever try this? It
> seems so much classier than oscillators or electronic keyboards.
>
> John Bowditch
>
> > ----------
> > From:         Kathleen Krafft
> > Reply To:     Informal Science Education Network
> > Sent:         Wednesday, May 26, 2004 1:13 PM
> > To:   [log in to unmask]
> > Subject:      Re: musical staircase exhibit
> >
> > ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
> > Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and
> > related institutions.
> >
> **************************************************************
> ***************
> >
> > I was contacted by a chemistry professor who would like to
> include a
> > musical staircase in a new college science building.  Our
> Sciencenter
> > musical staircase is based on your motion through space and uses an
> > overhead camera & computer, but he wants to be able to "play" notes
> > and explore musical scales, etc.
> >
> > I told him I'd forward his request to the listserve.  See following
> > message below, which includes his email address if you'd
> like to reply
> > directly.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Kathy Krafft
> > Director of Exhibits
> > Sciencenter, Ithaca NY
> >
> > -----
> > St. Olaf College is in the planning stage for a new science
> building.
> > Being a college with strong music, science, and math
> programs (among
> > others...), and being a violinist myself, it occurred to me that it
> > would be a neat idea to install in this new building an interactive
> > science/music/math display. My idea is a musical staircase.
> I've seen
> > a wonderful example of this at the Science Museum of Minnesota, and
> > I've talked with several people - Larry Ralph at the Boston
> Museum of
> > Science, John Bowditch at the Anne Arbor Hands-On Science Museum,
> > Kathy Krafft at the Sciencenter (Ithaca, NY), among others.
> >
> > Kathy suggested I contact this list and ask what people know about
> > such installations, what suggestions they might have, what
> they think
> > it should cost, etc. Really, any comments you have
> regarding this idea
> > would be greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Parameters include:
> >
> > Timeframe: We're about 2-3 years to construction.
> >
> > Context: Building plan is roughed out only, but includes a nice
> > central two-floor atrium with staircase. I don't know how
> many steps,
> > but if I had 88, I'd use them all.
> >
> > Capabilities: We have superb cabnetry carpenters here on
> campus, I'm
> > pretty computer-savvy, we have a great electronic services division
> > with lots of know-how.
> >
> > Funds: I'll probably have to fund this myself, unless you have a
> > better idea.
> >
> > Ideas: So far my idea is to modify an electronic keyboard (Yamaha
> > clavinova?) and use infrared beams on individual channels
> tying into
> > the action of a keyboard.
> >
> > Comments? Suggestions? Wild ideas?
> >
> > Thank you,
> >
> > Bob Hanson
> > -
> > Robert M. Hanson, [log in to unmask], 507-646-3107
> > Professor of Chemistry, St. Olaf College
> > 1520 St. Olaf Ave., Northfield, MN 55057 mailto:[log in to unmask]
> > http://www.stolaf.edu/people/hansonr
> >
> > "Imagination is more important than knowledge."  - Albert Einstein
> >
> >
> **********************************************************************
> > *
> > More information about the Informal Science Education
> Network and the
> > Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at
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> To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
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