CodeBLUE: a Bluetooth interactive dance club system

This paper examines the use of Bluetooth for a collaborative music creation system called codeBLUE where the low cost, low power and small dimensions of Bluetooth technology are critical. Dancers using the codeBLUE system wear clothing incorporating Bluetooth-enabled sensors that measure and transmit information about the dancers´ movements to a Bluetooth access point positioned in the demonstration area, which in turn forwards the information to a control system. The system software transforms the simple dance movements into musical modifications in real time, altering the melodic, rhythmic, and dynamic properties of the music stream in terms of MIDI parameters. A configuration console allows the DJ to modify the effects that each type of sensor produces, providing him or her yet another channel of creativity and keeping the codeBLUE experience fresh for participants. The paper describes the architecture, design, and hardware and software implementation of the codeBLUE proof-of-concept prototype. The paper also discusses our evaluation of the technology used for this application. The system has been successfully demonstrated to a live audience.