Vibration underpins all matter in the universe. No matter can exist without sound and vibration.
To see the periodic motions that lie at the heart of matter is to lift the veils that conceal many mysteries of the universe.
Cymatics is the study of sound and vibration made visible, typically on the surface of a plate, diaphragm or membrane. Direct ocular viewing of vibrations involves exciting inorganic matter such as particulate matter, pastes (both magnetic and non magnetic) and liquids under the influence of sound, although recent research has extended the range of media to include organic matter and the range of viewing has been extended to include the light microscope.
The generic term for this field of science is the study of ‘modal phenomena, named ‘Cymatics’ by Hans Jenny, a Swiss medical doctor and a pioneer in this field. The word ‘Cymatics’ derives from the Greek ‘kuma’ meaning ‘billow’ or ‘wave,’ to describe the periodic effects that sound and vibration has on matter.
Cymatics also refers to the theory and practice of a therapy whereby sound waves are directed at the body, with the aim of promoting health.
An important step in our understanding of vowel sound structure and phonation:
Previously it had been assumed that each of the five vowels would have the same basic form for every person. However, our present cymatic study of vocal sounds has revealed a surprising result. The geometry of vowels actually varies from pitch-to-pitch for each person and from person to person. Nature, it seems, loves variety.
In essence it is the pitch of a person’s voice that determines the basic geometry of each vowel when made visible on the CymaScope. But if we change the pitch, while maintaining the same vowel sound, the geometry will change.
The basic vowel sound form is then beautified with complex patterns by the harmonics in the voice, which also vary for each person, as shown in the examples.
Q: What are some of the practical applications of cymatics?
A: Applications are beginning to emerge for almost every aspect of human endeavor. From the study of the sound of stars(astroseismology), to the study of animal calls (zoology), and in a wide range of other disciplines, several of which are highlighted in this web site. In collaboration with Jack Kassewitz in Florida we are beginning to decipher dolphin language by building a lexicon of dolphin picture words. Dolphins can see with sound and when they echolocate on an object we are able to record these reflections and translate the image using the CymaScope. This research is a stepping-stone to supporting research with the deaf in visualizing their spoken language. As the deaf person makes a sound though a CymaScope, a cymatic image is displayed, allowing them to compare this image with the formation made by their speech therapist. Pre-lingual autistic children may also benefit during the process of acquiring speech and language by voice pattern recognition. Since many children with autism are visual thinkers CymaScope technology provides an ideal way to utilize their learning style.
Star sounds can also be made visible on the CymaScope and the resulting real time video imagery has already been hailed by scientists as an important visual analog, representing in a simple model some of the processes at work in the star that will be particularly useful to students of asteroseismology.
http://www.cymascope.com/index.html
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