Developed by South Korean college students through the Samsung Design Membership program, Hotcake lets musicians of all abilities jam together in real time, without ever leaving home. Like hotcakes, designers Woojin Jang, Eunhye Jang, Hyeryoung Jeong, Ilyeo Lee, and Chaeeun Kim believe music is best shared, and that musical collaboration shouldn’t depend on lugging instruments to one location.
Hotcake’s design consists of a speaker system called Cake, a subwoofer dock with three removable speakers, and an earpiece called Butter, which provides either haptic feedback or serves as a metronome, so musicians can stay on beat. Together, these elements create an immersive, three dimensional experience, where each speaker represents one instrument. This system is managed through an app, allowing users to select who they will play with, and curate the best speaker configuration for their space.
The system’s design is minimalistic and sleek, utilizing light, vibration and sound to create an immersive ensemble experience. A shadow gap at the bottom of the subwoofer dock gives the unit a floating effect, while indents ensure each speaker fits seamlessly into its matte surface. The back of each square speaker mirrors these indents and features a pull-out rest, allowing each piece to stand securely on surfaces. These units glow with a circular LED light strip, which pulses to the individual beat of each member. At the same time, Butter’s haptic mode not only helps musicians keep their own time, but mimics the sensation of feeling the music vibrate through the floor.
Several technical elements make using Hotcake seamless. The system communicates wirelessly via ultra-low latency 2.4GHz radio signals, keeping sound, vibrations, and lights perfectly synchronized in real time. After every ensemble’s hundredth synchronization, the LED speaker lights pulse with a burst of colors.
Butter’s features are made possible by an adapter which can be plugged into the instrument, and the wearable has a built-in microphone so players can chat while they play. The earpiece can be stored and charged in a cradle in the Cake station.
The app which connects to Hotcake utilizes AI and Augmented Reality (AR) technology to provide advanced elements for users. Before starting a music session, the user can scan their space using AR to find the best speaker positioning, with three modes existing for speaker placement: Silent, Stage or Spatial mode. Users who can’t find the right musicians to play with can play with an AI band and once the session is over, AI edits each solo performance.
As more people embrace compact living, the Hotcake project highlights how design can adapt and provide the option for large living in less space. While Hotcake is unlikely to reach retail shelves, Samsung’s Design Membership aims to nurture new talent; and Hotcake may well inspire a future Samsung product.
Design by: Woojin Jang, Eunhye Jang, Hyeryoung Jeong, Ilyeo Lee, Chaeeun Kim.
