Music-toucher

red dot
red dot award: design concept 2008

initiator:

Zhejiang University, Innovation Center

design:

Heng Fengchi Wang Xiaofei Wang Lijue Zhou Hongjie Gao Shan Shan

Music-toucher is a pair of dance shoes
designed to make the dancing dream more
realizable for children with hearing disorders.

Music-toucher transfers the rhythm of the music into rhythmical vibration in the sole, which helps the dancer to catch the rhythm. Dancing must seem a far away dream to children living in a soundless world. Music- toucher brings the rhythm of music within the reach of children who have hearing disorders by making use of the sense of touch. A vibrating “transfer” module is placed into the sole of the ballet shoe. It registers the rhythm of the music and transfers it into a rhythmical vibration in the sole. The dancer can respond to this vibration underfoot – touched by the music.