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PurchasePlaytronTouchMeSynthsBoth of our devices - Playtron and TouchMe - use the idea of conductivity in order to trigger musical sounds. Conductivity, for those who don’t know it, is the ability that some objects and materials have to let electricity flow through them.
By connecting one cable to yourself and another to a conductive object or material, you create a harmless electric circuit. You close this circuit when you touch the conductive object/material and this is what triggers the musical sounds.
Some examples of objects and materials that conduct electricity are:
- Fruits, vegetables and organic matter. Although not all of them conduct the electricity the same way, as the resistance of different fruits or organic material is different. When covered with wax (only to make them look better at shops) the fruits or vegetables get less conductive (be especially aware with apples).
- Liquids (also depending the type of liquid, electricity flows more or less).
- Metals (but not all of them). Objects like cutlery, cooking pans, metallic cloth hangers, metallic boxes, tools, etc.
- Human skin (but not human hair).
- Also Jelly, some coloured wires, foil, wires, wet surfaces, plants… just visit your local art supply and please let us know what you have found conductive!
- ...and way more. You get the idea.
Check this video to better understand what conducts electricity:
If you want to quickly learn the history of electricity, check out the video below:
This video will tell you much more than you need to know, but we love the graphics and the music selection so much, we can't resist sharing it with you: