Support our non-partisan non-profit newsroom 💜 Donate now
Codebreaker

Strange spherical musical instrument developed for some reason

John Moe Jul 7, 2011

The AlphaSphere looks sort of like a soccer ball. That is to say a soccer ball that emits a glow from its center and is covered with pressure sensitive, circular pads that, when touched, play a tone. As you press harder on a pad, the tone changes. Developers in in Bristol, England, say the AlphaSphere was designed with electronic musicians in mind – mostly the kind that want to get out from behind the laptop and squeeze a glowing soccer ball. Sure, that’s how it starts. But soon every band will have the standard lineup of vocals, guitar, bass, drums, AlphaSphere. Okay not every band. But totally Coldplay.

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.