Have you ever had to choose between a knit scarf or a keyboard for your monthly budget? The Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT), world-famous Media Lab has the right piece of convergence culture for your needs!The KnittedKeyboard II is an interactive, textile-based musical instrument that aims to change the way people think about keyboards. It was inspired by the fact that many keyboards in the world have been quite rigid. The unpredictability of being a piece musical knitwear.It's a musical keyboard that's made of yarns that are expressive, soft and stretchable. This is what Irmandy Wikasono, an engineer and designer, explained to Digital Trends. It is all textile-based which makes it portable, unique and easy to use. It is made using machine knitting. This allows us to customize the look or colors, the number and octaves of keys, and [the tactile properties like] squishiness, stretchiness, and electrical properties. We can also computationally program the knitting pattern and feed various functional and common yarns.According to reports, the project was started with the intent of creating a foldable keyboard that Lyle Mays could use on the road. Wicaksono stated that the project evolved into something more.A musical experimentKnitted keyboards are, naturally, a bit gimmicky. It's not a bad thing. This is the kind of experimentation that draws attention and can produce interesting results. It opens up new possibilities for playing discrete notes, effects and modulations. Although it is not the first tech-meets musical instrument project, we have seen many others.Wicaksono stated that the knitted keyboard's elastic and squishy nature allows for a close relationship between the sounds and physical gestures. It feels like the fabric interface is alive. The sound and expressions are embodied in it, according to musicians. It makes the experience more organic.Wicaksono's work extends beyond wearable instruments. He said that e-textile technology has many real-world applications. We know textile is everywhere. This idea of reimagining textiles that we already own, such as a scarf, shirt, upholstery or carpet, is appealing to me. My other work involves physical interaction. I'm also interested in embedding electronics into shirts to aid sports and medical applications.Is there any plan to commercialize the keyboard in the interim? Wicaksono stated that the KnittedKeyboard was manufactured using machine knitting. This manufacturing process is widely used in the garment and technical fabric industries. The product is definitely viable for commercialization. Machine knitting can be considered an additive manufacturing process. Machine knitting is a flexible manufacturing process that creates very little waste.You'll soon find a music shop near you. Perhaps.
