Music is one of the best experiences in life and sadly deaf people are deprived of it. But one of the things people often say about music is that you can feel it, especially in a live environment.
With that in mind, musician and artist Daniel Belker Music: not impossible (spin-off of not impossible lab) has developed a haptic suit consisting of 24 diaphragms after much trial and error, aiming to help deaf people rediscover their love of music. It has a sort of backpack shape, with additional plates strapped to the wrists and ankles.
NPR visited Silent Disco: A Night of Access Magic At the event, held at New York’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, 75 suits were provided to all applicants.
Rather than trying to recreate music with simple beats, the suit aims to offer a range of sensations that complement the music being played. Vibrations are controlled and mixed by the DJ. By mixing the light, the music itself (via optional headphones) and the vibrations, all concert goers experience the same thing at the same time. They know what people are like, so if you put them in a group, they will soon be dancing and having fun like no one is watching.
One attendee praised the suit. Lily Lippman, who has auditory processing disorder, said, “It’s so wonderful, because you can never be sure you’re hearing what other people are hearing. It’s great to be able to incorporate it into your body.”
Praise also came from event organizers and representatives of Not Impossible. And so are we. Anything that helps promote inclusivity and accessibility by allowing people with disabilities to enjoy things we take for granted is just awesome.
Enjoying live music is one of my favorite pastimes. I don’t sit down and go as often as I used to, but seeing people at concerts enjoying experiencing things that many of us take for granted makes me happy again. It made me want to go see (and hear) something. .
