Duncan Wilson knows that sound resonates from every surface in our environment – if even in the form of a subtle whisper. Wilson wondered how many of these undetected sounds could be identified, combined and amplified to create a new sonic experience in the form of ambient music. OTTO (meaning ‘ear’ in Greek), created by Wilson, along with Manolis Kelaidis at the Royal College of the Art, is a device that uncovers diminutive vibrations by placing magnets and suction mechanisms on various surfaces and magnifies them through an integrated speaker. By placing several units on your window, a glass of melting ice water, a goldfish bowl, or any other unassuming item in your surroundings, OTTO devises a multidirectional audio atmosphere.
