BOUBA: An Intuitive System for Accessing the Benefits of Music Therapy

Emory Smith

California Institute of the Arts

Built — second prototype and web version in progress · TEI / DIS target

Abstract

BOUBA is a quadraphonic sound object providing tactile interaction with therapeutic generative synthesis. Designed for the non-musician seeking a psychologically beneficial relationship with sound, BOUBA targets four pillars of human experience: sleep, mood, productivity, and autonomic regulation. At roughly \$80 USD to reproduce, its physical controls and spatialization foster an intimate and unique relationship with the user, grounded in empirical research linking ambient consonance, rhythmic entrainment, and generative soundscapes to measurable physiological and psychological benefit. BOUBA makes no claim of clinical efficacy; the relationship between the cited findings and its synthesis parameters is one of informed design.

Keywords: music therapy, generative synthesis, tangible interfaces, Teensy, quadraphonic, wellbeing

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Structure

  1. The built object — Teensy Audio Library, four speakers from two PCM5102 DACs through four LM386 amplifiers, 9 V in, no other connections
  2. The research baseline — sleep, mood, productivity, autonomic regulation, and the studies behind each preset
  3. Second generation — a new prototype built for accessibility and sound quality
  4. The web version — the same generative system in a browser
  5. Physical versus browser — the comparison the pair makes possible
  6. Evaluation — interviews, thematic analysis, an interface-quality instrument, and usage telemetry

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