The Halomin
A halomin
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The HalominA halomin |
~Musical
instrument consisting of a vertical hoop (the `halo') about 1.5 meters
in diameter, mounted on a broad solid base. It is ringed with an array
of piezoelectric laser motion detectors ringing the inner edge of the
halo. The base has an simple audiovisual holoprojector protruding from
it. The end result is that hand gestures are interpreted as music and
light.
The halomin was originally invented by Anjou Sharavi-Kidjo, Interplanetary
Age musical conductor cum AI
designer, sometime during 2195 c.e. (
226 a.t.) Apparently, his goal was to be able to perform his
own compositions and
lightshow accompaniment without having to work through an orchestra.
Despite the initial novelty, the device didn't really catch on until
centuries later. A superbright playwright, Tayana Cernechka of the
Bourgatov Alliance, came to the realization (some would call it an
epiphany) that the audiovisual stylings of the halomin could be
reinterpreted as a full-on language. The product of her efforts was
something halfway between animated abstract art and written musical
notation. Critical, if not commercial, success soon followed. Having to
learn a language just to understand a musical production put a cap on
the number of fans it had, but it definitely found enough to attain
cult status.
By modern times, thanks to tachydidactic
virch and instantaneous
knowledge downloads, it had caught on enough to acquire many more
enthusiasts. Like all other fads in a universe of fast- and slow-timers
alike, the popularity of the instrument cyclically ebbs and flows.
The modern halomin comes in every conceivable size and variation; from
room-sized variants that allow motion capture and full body theater to
microscale versions that you need microwaldoes and visual augmentation
to operate. Many of the modern versions have been upgraded with DNI
functionality; some prefer the literalistic results. Halomin purists,
of course, have nothing but scorn for such people.
