Mundane Tech came from a simple idea: some of the things we do the most are also the least interesting. Changing volume is one of them. It’s quick, invisible, and forgettable. We aimed to make that small action more engaging by adding effort, play, and surprise.
Using Makey Makeys, we built three different ways to control computer volume. The first turns volume control into a game. Instead of pressing a button, you have to aim and hit targets to turn the sound up or down. It forces you to slow down and actually engage with the action.
The second piece uses a chair. Turning it clockwise increases the volume, turning it anticlockwise lowers it. A tiny digital adjustment becomes a full-body movement.
The last one gives control to chance. You flip a coin to earn the right to turn the volume down. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. That’s the point.
The course introduced electronics from scratch, focusing on how circuits work and how switches complete them. Using Makey Makeys, this project explored alternative physical ways of triggering those circuits. By turning simple volume control into actions like aiming, rotating, or relying on chance, we questioned how everyday electronic interactions could be more physical and intentional.
