New Ghosts

WS 2014 – Federica Furlani, Jasmine Guffond, Jonas Hummel

Skin conductance is a meter for measuring the electrical conductance of the skin and is subject to variation according to the amount of sweat induced moisture. Since sweat is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system, skin conductance is used as an indication of psychological or physiological arousal and emotional response.
We have made a prototype for a collective networked instrument operating entirely via skin conductance. The audience listens via headphones, creating an intimate listening experience suitable for such a personalised instrument.
External factors such as temperature and humidity also affect skin conductance, so that our instrument not only reflects the personal psychological states of the players, but is also in an immediate dialogue with the temperament of the surrounding environment.