Listen to the Light of the Firefly! See the Sound of Insects!

Function

The faint glow of fireflies in the darkness or the chirping song of insects on a long autumn night has a calming effect on people. These natural phenomena share a special rhythm called “1/f fluctuation” (see: “Life with Fluctuations”) with human brain waves and heartbeats, so they can put people’s minds at ease. Researchers are looking into converting firefly light into sound and insect chirping into light, to express them in ways that can be enjoyed by those with visual or hearing impairments.

Functional Classification

Defense/Stability:
Comfort

Environmental Solution Classification

Related Literature

Technical Application

A palm-sized firefly robot prototype has been completed using 1/f fluctuation. This prototype is equipped with an ultra-micro battery and a microcomputer chip, and glows just like a real firefly for 4-5 hours.

Products and Services

  • Firefly robot.

Type of Business

Proposals of Applied Technology

It is possible to use 1/f fluctuations to help people with disabilities experience a new world of physical sensations previously unknown to them, like having a visually impaired person listen to the light of a firefly, or a hearing-impaired person see the sound of insects chirping. This technology could become an accessible tool for those with visual or hearing impairments, or those suffering from disabilities in their daily lives, to help relieve them of their day-to-day stress in modern society.

Proposals of Applied Industry

Related Life Style