Theremine

As technology progressed, tinkerers and enthusiasts explored a wide variety of ways to mimic traditional instruments without the original hardware, while also discovering ingenious methods of producing sound that transcend the need for physical contact. One such instrument is the theremin, a combination of antennas, oscillators and loudspeakers that sense the musician’s hand movements and translates them into actual sound.

The philosophy of the instrument’s hands-free interaction model would later inspire concepts and real-world applications, leading up to more accurate optical gesture recognition patterns achievable through dedicated devices such as Microsoft’s Xbox Kinect and the Leap Motion project.

Since procuring the original hardware required for playing such an instrument can be costly or cumbersome to assemble, those who still want to emulate it can do so using the latter device through an aptly named utility known as Theremine.

As a result, once the Leap Motion controller is connected, the app tracks the position of either of your hands when making movements across the sensor to alter the waveform synthesis and produce the signature sound effects that are often used to convey uncanny feelings through movies’ background music for an enhanced sense of immersion that contributes to the overall eerie atmosphere.