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Orphe: smart-footwear for artists and performers

Orphe is a Smart footwear system that uses motion sensors and LED to enable new forms of expression.

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Orphe: smart-footwear for artists and performers

Orphe: smart-footwear for artists and performers

Orphe: smart-footwear for artists and performers

Orphe: smart-footwear for artists and performers

Orphe: smart-footwear for artists and performers

Orphe is a Smart footwear system that uses motion sensors and LED to enable new forms of expression.

Orphe is a Smart footwear system that uses motion sensors and LED to enable new forms of expression.

Orphe is a Smart footwear system that uses motion sensors and LED to enable new forms of expression.

Orphe is a Smart footwear system that uses motion sensors and LED to enable new forms of expression.

Yuya Kikukawa
Yuya Kikukawa
Yuya Kikukawa
Yuya Kikukawa
1 Campaign |
Tokyo, Japan
$110,717 USD by 360 backers
$63,915 USD by 218 backers on May 12, 2015

Thank you!

Thank you for all backers. This crowdfunding campaign succeeded, now on sale in general! You can purchase Orphe on Amazon and others.

皆様のおかげでスマートフットウェアOrpheのクラウドファンディングキャンペーンは成功し、現在一般発売中です!Amazon他で購入いただけます。

What is orphe?

Orphe is a smart-shoes system designed for performance that functions both as a customizable lighting system and a musical instrument/audio-visual controller. The sole of each shoe contains advanced motion sensors, around 100 full-color, serially-controlled LEDs, and a wireless module (patent pending). This technology allows users to intuitively express themselves in new and interesting ways by freely mapping interactions between their movement sand light and sound. We also provide a system that makes it easy for users to share the assets they've created online, and we hope to grow a community of artists and performers working in different media and genres who can take inspiration from each other's use of Orphe hardware and applications.

Orpheは照明となり楽器ともなる、パフォーマンスに特化したスマートシューズです。この靴のソールには最新のモーションセンサ、約100のフルカラーシリアル制御LED、 無線モジュールなどが内蔵されており、ユーザは自分のモーションと光と音のインタラクションを自由にマッピングして、直感的に様々な新しい表現を追求することができます(特許出願済)。

また、web上でユーザが自分のデザインしたアセットを簡単にシェアできるシステムを提供することで、異なるジャンルのアーティスト同士が触発し合えるようなシェアシステムを提供します。

Who are we?


no new folk studio Inc. is a Japanese hardware startup launched in November, 2014. We create technology for artists and performers with a focus on wireless interaction and the Internet of Things (IoT).

What people are saying about Orphe:

"L.A. Lights were pretty great (and perhaps the original wearable), but they have nothing onOrphe."

"The Orphe is not your average wearable system."

"They're like those light-up shoes that you had when you were a kid -- the ones that blink and flash, activated by the pressure of your tread -- but they're also 200 percent cooler than that."

"Le projet vise à créer une nouvelle forme d’art, mettant en relation les mouvements, la musique et la lumière, en se servant de ce nouveau support audio-visuel… Les possibilités de création deviennent infinies !"

Shoe Design

Our goal has been to design shoes that will serve as a canvass or palette for the artists and performers who wear them.

Using applications on their smartphones or other devices to customise their shoes' LEDs, Orphe users can wear whatever colours they want. We’ve designed white and black prototypes that look good no matter what colour the lights are.

Finding a way to make shoes that have batteries and a host of electronic components inside them has been very challenging, but through close collaboration between a traditional shoemaker and our engineers we’ve been able to achieve a minimalist design that functions well both as an interface and as footwear.

Orpheのユーザはスマートフォン等のアプリケーションを通じて、好きな色の光を纏うことが出来ます。我々はどんな色を選択しても魅力的に見える白と黒の二種類の靴をデザインしました。

靴のデザインについては、日本の伝統的な靴職人をチームに招き入れました。多数の電子部品や電池を内蔵するOrpheの製法を確立することは大変にチャレンジングですが、エンジニアと靴職人が綿密に話し合うことでミニマルなデザインの中にインタフェースとしての機能とスニーカーとしての機能を両立させることができました。

Black Shoes

White Shoes

On-board electronics


Each Orphe shoe contains a small unified circuit board with an ARM Cortex-M3 microprocessor, invensense mpu9150 motion-tracking device, wireless module (Bluetooth LE), and charging circuit. Each sole is also surrounded by a high density LED tape with lights that can be controlled individually by the microprocessor. We have already created two trial circuit boards for use in our prototypes.

OrpheにはARM Cortex-M3プロセッサ、InvenSense MPU-9150、 Bluetooth LEモジュール、そして充電回路が一体となった小型の電子基板が内蔵されます。また、オリジナルソールの側面には高密度のシリアル制御のLEDテープが取り付けられ、マイクロプロセッサによってすべてのLEDが個別制御されます。我々はすでに2回試作基板をつくり、それらをプロトタイプに使用しています。

Orphe shoes can be used in conjunction with various applications on smartphones or computers via a Bluetooth connection. We provide a free iOS application that allows users to control the lights on the shoes and integrate Orphe into their performances (Android and OSX versions are stretch goals and will be developed if enough funds are raised). We also want to release an SDK to make it easy for anyone to create applications that make use of the Orphe hardware, and we encourage users to develop and release their own applications.

OrpheはスマートフォンやコンピュータにBluetoothで接続し様々なアプリケーションと連携することのできるスマートシューズです。我々はOrpheの光り方を操作したり、Orpheで演奏を行うためのベーシックなiOS専用アプリケーションを無償で提供します(android版、OSX版はファンディング達成金額に応じて提供が決まります)。また我々はOrpheと連携するアプリケーションをつくるためのSDKを公開したいと考えています。ユーザ自身が自分の開発したアプリケーションをマーケットに公開することも促進していきます。

Development update #1

Easily and intuitively create custom illumination designs

The shoes' illumination can be controlled easily and intuitively using a tablet, and the designs you create can be uploaded to the shoes. We will also make it easy to upload your illumination designs and share them with your friends on the Internet.

タブレットを使って簡単に靴の光り方を操作することができます。またデザインした色をweb上にアップロードして友人とシェアすることが可能です。

Orphe's lights can be set to change along with the speed and orientation of a dancer's movements, allowing for various forms of expression and performance - giving motion an “aura”, for example, or creating a design using after-images. (The image above is an unedited photo taken with a normal DSLR camera without any CGI).

Orpheは向きや速度に応じて光の強さや色を変え、動きをオーラのように見せることや残像で模様を表現することができます。

Control various performance elements with your feet.

The 9-axis sensors embedded in each sole pick up the movements of each shoe in real time. These data can then be used to wirelessly control various external devices, allowing the shoes to function as musical instruments, video game controllers, foot switches, etc.

ソールに内蔵された9軸センサはリアルタイムに靴の動きを検出し、コンピュータに送信します。このデータは光や音に変換するだけでなく、ビデオゲームのコントローラとして利用することや、インターネットに接続された様々なモノを操作することができます。

Share sound/light/gesture designs

Sounds, lighting designs, and gestures can be uploaded and shared with other users on the Internet. For example, a user might practice by imitating the gestures of a dancer they want to emulate.

Webを通じて自分のデザインした音、光、ジェスチャをアップロードし、他のユーザーにシェアすることができます。例えば上手なダンサーのシェアしたジェスチャを真似することで、ダンスの練習を効果的にすることができます。

Open API

We have open-sourced elements of our Orphe software and made it easy for other developers to create various applications for our hardware. We provide libraries for open source platforms such as OpenFrameworks, Processing, Pure Data, and Max/MSP, and we encourage the entire user community to further extend the system's capabilities.

我々はOrpheのプログラムを一部オープンにし、他のデベロッパーがOrpheを使った様々なアプリケーションを簡単に開発できるようにします。我々はOpenFrameworks, Processing, Pure data, Max/MSP といったオープンソースプラットフォームに対応したライブラリを提供し、ユーザーコミュニティ全体でOrpheを更に進化させていくことを促進します。

Funding goals and perks

We need funding to:

  • Make the metal moulds for our custom soles
  • Make uppers (the parts of a shoe above the sole)
  • Make circuit boards
  • Make approximately 100 LED lights for each pair of shoes.
  • Obtain wireless regulatory approval
  • Cover the cost of developing software applications

Because new moulds have to be made for each size of shoe, the amount of money we raise will determine how many sizes we can produce. If we raise enough we may also be able to increase the number of engineers working on the project and extend the compatibility of our software application to other operating systems.

If we raise $30,000: 3 shoe sizes + iOS application

If we raise $50,000: 5 shoe sizes + iOS, OSX applications

If we raise $70,000: 7 shoe sizes + iOS, OSX, Android applications

ファンディングの資金は主に

  • 特殊形状ソールの金型の製造
  • 靴のアッパーの製造
  • 基板の製造
  • 1足役200個のフルカラーLED
  • 無線規格の認可
  • アプリケーションの開発費

に使われます。

特に特殊形状ソールの金型の製造は靴のサイズ毎に金型をつくる必要があるため、我々はファンドの達成額に応じてサイズ展開の数を変えていきます。また達成額に応じてエンジニアを増員し、対応アプリケーションも増やしていきます。

  • 達成額30000ドルの場合:3サイズの展開, iOS App
  • 達成額50000ドルの場合:5サイズの展開, iOS App & OS X App
  • 達成額70000ドルの場合:7サイズの展開, iOS App, OS X App & Android Application

Perks

Risks & Challenges

Creating smart-shoes with embedded circuit boards and batteries that can withstand a dancer’s movements will not be easy. We are a very small startup without enough people and money to accomplish this on our own. Thanks to our many supporters who have enthusiastically contributed to taking on this challenge, however, we have reached a point at which we are confident we will be able to manufacture Orphe on a medium scale provided we can raise enough funds.

At present we have produced our second prototype shoe and completed our basic software application, and we have also fabricated custom soles to hold the electronic components and uppers designed by a master shoemaker. As long as we don’t run into problems with durability or the production process the current prototype models are ready to be turned into shoes we can ship to backers.

The first hurdle we will have to overcome in manufacturing Orphe shoes is the fabrication of metal moulds for the custom soles needed to hold the electronic components. This is expensive, and new moulds must be made for each size of shoe. As a result, even if we meet our minimum funding goal we won't necessarily be able to produce a satisfactory range of sizes. We will decide what sizes to produce based on the level of funding we receive and then send backers the one best suited to their measurements.

The biggest risk of a change in our final product is related to the battery. In our current prototype we are using lithium-ion polymer batteries with protective circuits, and right now they are capable of providing over three hours of continuous use on a single charge. We may use a different battery, however, if we can find one that carries a larger charge, is safer, and is small enough to fit inside a shoe. If this occurs it may result in minor changes to the design of our shoes.

We may run into difficulties that will delay shipment of our product. We will post regular updates to keep backers informed of our progress and respond to comments and questions as quickly as we can.

※Delivery of perks are subject to best efforts and not guaranteed.

基板や電池、LEDを内蔵し、ダンサーの激しい動きにも耐えるスマートシューズを製造することは容易ではありません。我々はとても小さなスタートアップ企業であり、人手も予算も十分ではありません。

しかし一方でこのチャレンジングなプロジェクトに献身的に参加してくださる多くのサポーターのおかげで、現在の我々は適正な予算が確保できればOrpheの中量生産が可能な状況まで至ることができました。

現在我々は2回目の試作基板と基礎的なアプリケーションを完成させ、また電子部品を内蔵できる特殊形状のソールと熟練した靴職人のデザインしたアッパー部を完成させています。耐久性や生産手順の確定といった問題を除けば、現在の試作でも普通の靴として履くことができ、パフォーマンスを行うことができます。

このチャレンジを行う上でまずネックとなるのは、電子部品を内蔵できる特殊形状のソールの金型の製造です。金型の製造はそれぞれが高価な上に靴のサイズの分必要になります。そのため最低限のゴールを達成した場合でも十分なサイズ展開ができるわけではありません。我々は達成金額に応じてサイズ展開を決定し、その後backerに最適なサイズの靴を郵送します。

またこのチャレンジを行う上でもっとも変更のリスクが高いのは、電池に関する仕様です。我々は現在の試作に保護回路付きのリチウムイオンポリマー電池を使用しています。現在の仕様では一回の充電で3時間以上の連続使用が可能です。しかしスニーカーに内蔵できるほど小さく、大きな放電を行える、より安全な電池を探すことができれば、電池を変更する可能性があります。この変更によってスニーカーのデザインにも若干の変更が加えられる可能性があります。

Development process

Right now we are developing Orphe at a shared factory/office called “DMM.make AKIBA” in Akihabara, Tokyo, and using the machines available there we have been able to construct many Orphe prototypes.

私たちは東京、秋葉原のシェアファクトリー付きのシェアオフィス DMM.make AKIBA に入居しており、Orpheの試作品の多くはそのファクトリー内の機械を使って作られました。

Timeline

Supporters

no new folk studio Inc. is supported by ABBA Lab Inc., a company that invests in Internet of Things (IoT) hardware prototyping.

no new folk studio はIoT(Internet of things)ハードウェアのプロトタイピングへの投資育成を行っている株式会社ABBA Labのサポートを受けています。

We are receiving assistance from Cerevo, a hardware startup company founded by Takuma Iwasa and based in Tokyo since 2007, in developing Orphe and bringing it to market as a consumer product.

株式会社Cerevoは岩佐琢磨氏が2007年に設立したハードウェアスタートアップの先駆け的企業です。Orpheの製品化に当たって、我々は株式会社Cerevoの協力を受け開発を進めます。

We are also receiving support from GUGEN, a contest that recognizes devices that represent “what will be normal in the future” and supports their realization as products.

「未来のふつう」となるデバイスやアイデアを評価し、具現化をサポートするコンテスト「GUGEN」のサポートを受けています。

Special Thanks

  • Yoshinari Kou (Pcb design engineer )
  • Ryuta Mino (Product designer)
  • Minoru Nakanou (web engineer)
  • Nobuaki Ito (Mechanical Engineer)

Artists and performers wanted !

The Orphe system is not only for dancers. It can be used to augment art and performance in a wide range of fields including music, photography, and exhibition sports. If you are an artist or performer who would like to do something new using Orphe, we’d like to hear from you. We’ll provide whatever support we can to anyone who wants to create new forms of expression with the Orphe system.

Orpheはダンサーのためだけの靴ではありません。ミュージシャン、フォトグラファー、エキシビジョンスポーツなど、工夫によって様々なジャンルのパフォーマンスで活躍します。

Orpheを使って何か新しいことがしたいと思ったアーティスト、パフォーマーの方はお気軽にご連絡ください。私たちはOrpheとユーザが新しい表現を創造することを支援していきます!

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