Digital Harp Chair

The Digital Harp Chair is an interactive art installation that transforms a piece of furniture into an expressive musical instrument. By merging classic design with modern technology, this project invites users to create music through the simple act of touch.

The chair features two harp-shaped armrests, each strung with touch-sensitive aluminum bars. When a user sits down and runs their hands over the bars, they trigger a series of musical notes, much like playing a real harp. This intuitive interface makes musical expression accessible to everyone, regardless of their musical background.

Features & Functionality

The chair is more than just a simple instrument; it’s a complete sound-sculpting station. Integrated controls, located discreetly on the top of the harp armrests, allow the user to customize their sound in real-time.

• Touch-Sensitive “Strings”: The core of the instrument, six aluminum bars on each armrest act as capacitive touch sensors to play notes.
• Octave Control: Users can shift the pitch up or down, expanding the chair’s musical range.
• Volume Control: The overall volume can be easily adjusted.
• Effects Control: A dedicated sensor allows for the application of various audio effects, adding depth and character to the music.

Technical Implementation

At the heart of the Digital Harp Chair is a Bela microcontroller, renowned for its ultra-low latency audio and sensor processing capabilities. This ensures a responsive and seamless musical experience with no noticeable delay between touch and sound.

The entire system is powered by custom C++ code, which handles everything from processing the capacitive touch inputs to synthesizing the audio output. The electronics, including the Bela board and a speaker system, are neatly housed underneath the chair.

Design and Collaboration

This project was a collaborative effort, designed and fabricated by the talented students at Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School with guidance and support from Museum London. The result is a unique fusion of art, design, and technology, showcasing how creative collaboration can produce truly innovative and engaging experiences. The back of the chair features an engraved panel proudly displaying the “HCC ART TECH” contribution.