iPhone App to Supplement Stuntsabers? Vader Props?

[vedicdragon]

I was just musing through some saber tech and had an idea a while ago that I have yet to implement. Was wondering if anyone else had a similar revelation....

So if you have a bunch of stunt sabers that are impractical or difficult to add a soundboard to, and needed sound, they now have an iphone app (been had at this point) that uses the accelerometer to gauge movement and make the effects.

Any number of "armband" style hard-cases could keep this discrete while still linking it to the sweep and motion of one's arm while spinning or duelling. I've tested this with some friends with mixed results when the app first came out but with far better when I checked more recently, as the app has had quite a few updates.

In addition to this, I see the updates have included different saber sound suites based on the character and even the theme music a la Force Unleashed.

Was thinking about how this could prove useful ("practical application" as it were) and stumbled upon this idea:

Vader has speakers on his belt-or at least grilled metal compartments. With some ingenuity, one could easily fashion the armband case to be inconspicuous and with the iphone OS 3.0 update to Bluetooth profiles could sync some battery powered speakers to Vader for the lightsaber sound effects and even the theme music for costumers and 501st members who wanted to add a little bit of "extra flair" to their portrayal.

So was curious: has anyone else come up with a similar idea and if so, how did that work out for you?

In addendum a real challenge for bluetooth sync management would be to pipe the sound from a mic attached to the helmet out to the speakers while still having them synced to the iphone. That's a conundrum that's actually going to bother me for a while until I figure out a workaround...

[Garyn Fett™]

Dooo it. That way, when I see you at a Con or something, I can hack it and make funny noises come out.


Honestly, though, that's a decent idea, if horrendously complicated for someone of my laziness. I'm not sure how you'd incorporate clashes into that, but its still a very nice idea.

[vedicdragon]

LOL the clashes are already incorporated.

The Accelerometer can tell the difference between continuous motion and sudden spikes and stops. When the motion sensor detects you doing a sweep that stops suddenly it throws a clash sound in. If anything, it's -too- sensitive. This would require one to be more "sweeping archs" to keep the continuous sound effects going. Again, not something I'd suggest for regular duelling for accuracy, but a great way to supplement a stunt saber with sound if you already have access to this technology.

I started thinking abit further with this ... you could in theory program and record a ton of sound files and quotes and pipe them through bluetooth speakers ... but that's a different line of inquiry.

LoL

I may have to look into this for sh!@% and giggles.

:-)