David Pogue just reported about an iPhone application called Ocarina that leverages the iPHone’s microphone, speaker, touch screen, graphics, tilt sensor, Internet connection and GPS.
Once you install and open this program, your iPhone’s screen displays four colored circles of different sizes. These are the “holes” that you cover with your fingers, as you would the holes on a flute. Then you blow into the microphone hole at the bottom of the iPhone, and presto: the haunting, expressive, beautiful sound of a wind instrument comes from the iPhone speaker.
The GPS comes in when you hit a map view button that allows you to listen to someone else on the planet using the application to create music. The instant worldwide connection to either a polished player or starter makes an interesting use of location and the Internet. I can see real possibilities for such connections.
I think it would be a great add-on to geoconnect others that are fumbling their way through new software programs. I’d jump in the car and drive to a local coffee shop or community center if I knew I could connect with someone that could get me past the newbie hurdles. It sure would beat the endless searches on forums and support sites when I encounter a problem that I just can’t seem to surmount.
