Michele Christle | Millet Jet | Feb 6, 2007 | image from flickr
I'm developing an intuitive musical toy for my friend Michele's neighbors in Bame, Cameroon. The kids in Bame are fascinated by the technology they have seen so far: the jet above, made of millet stalks, was made after a similar plane flew overhead and the whole village stopped to watch. They also love seeing pictures of themselves on the screen of Michele's digital camera—the same universal "that's me!" response is what inspired me to create a musical toy that could sample nearby sounds.
This toy will need to be self-powered, extremely durable, and immediately understandable—it won't ship with any instructions. You can learn more about Michele and her village here.