Aivery Onstott resists the old cliches about engineers.
“Many people think engineers aren’t creative,” he says. “But really, engineering is the perfect place for creativity. The field can be a great intersection of abilities. You can use your technical skills to make art.”
The rising junior, who is studying computer science in the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, has found a way to turn old tech into new tunes.
He has discovered a passion for circuit bending.
Circuit boards are commonly used in electrical engineering. Typically made from a combination of fiberglass, copper and insulation, these boards connect components and allow electronic signals to flow from one part of an electrical device to another. They are an essential part of everything from smart tablets to refrigerators to power drills.
In circuit bending, these boards become highly original musical instruments. To make that happen, benders alter the boards by adding components like resistors, capacitors or buttons to cause the new device to make interesting noises or sounds. Musical artists such as Beck, REM and Men Without Hats have all included samples of circuit bending in their tracks.
Onstott found circuit bending through a class, AME 294 Topic: Circuit Bending, taught by Seth Thorn, a clinical assistant professor in ASU’s School of Arts, Media and Engineering.
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