How it works

Detection A spotlight hangs over the table and under the glass plate game board there is a field of light sensors. Each semi-transparent building block that is brought into position anywhere on the table establishes a filter dimming down the intensity of the downward-flashing spotlight. The resulting variations create a kind of grey scale continuum that can be registered by the sensor field under the glass plate. Each of these grey scale values corresponds to a particular parameter of the selected <instant city> composition. Exactly what is heard, however, depends upon where the building blocks are placed, how high they are, how many are on the table, and the sequence in which they are used. Detection Barrier In placing the blocks, the active hand and arm of the player casts a shadow on the game board surface. Since such a shadow would be detected by the three-dimensional and grey-scale continuum sensitive playing field and thereby disrupt the game, a ‘detection barrier’ runs around the outermost ring of the game board. This device serves in delaying the detection of the building blocks until the active hand and art are no longer within the sensing field. The detection barrier consists of a string of lights located under the glass plate. As long as a hand or arm is in the playing field, it is lit up. When the hand or arm is removed, it goes out and the new musical event becomes audible. Choosing the Composition instant city <de luxe> On one side of the game table are a display (VFD) and two navigation push-buttons integrates. Over the push-buttons the desired language as well as the different compositions can be selected in a simple and understandably developed menu. Furthermore the display documents the play process. Instant city <classic> Near the installation there is a board upon which the composition keys rest: all are different. For each composition there is one glowing, pulsing plexiglass object. Every object encases a simple, electronic circuitry which not only serves in recognizing/selecting the composition, but also to start and stop the game. Each piece can be inserted into a respective slot in the table. Additional specification of instant city de luxe Switch-on and Switch-off instant city <de luxe> can be easily switched on and off by turning just a key-switch. Standby modus If nobody is at the game table or in the exhibition space over longer time, the spotlight as well as the space acoustic irradiation switch off automatically, (slow fade out). Re-enter a visitor into the area, he is recognized by the space sensors integrated in the table, and light and sound "are raised" automatically again (slow fade in).