Most of the time when we talk about new musical instruments we are primarily concerned with how they sound, but for a significant proportion of the population, this isn’t the primary concern. People with partial or complete hearing loss will be far less interested in the sounds something makes, but in how it looks and feels.
Vibra is a concept musical instrument which is highly tactile and uses coloured lights, vibration and haptic feedback to help users understand what sounds and notes are being produced.
The modular design means it could be fitted with an interface akin to a keyboard, a guitar, a multi-pad system, or any other kind of pre-existing or reimagined instrument.
It is designed to pair with a phone or tablet app which allows players to visualise their music. It’s claimed that with a fair amount of visual training and consistent practice, hearing-impaired people can use the Vibra to play existing tunes and create their own compositions.
The pictures of the concept instrument certainly look interesting. We’re not entirely sure whether this device actually exists, and if not, whether it is to be built at some point. It has won a Red Dot Design Concept Award and was designed by Ahn Taegwang, Go Yeongseok, Hwang Jimin and Lee Wonjae.
