James Forrest Smith
D-F1: Digital Fidelity
// A unique audio system where music is downloaded onto a physical control puck.
The puck is first docked onto the main player, allowing the user to select an artist and track. To begin playback, it is moved to a linear track, where it slowly travels across the surface as the song plays providing subtle, real-time feedback through motion. As digital music consumption becomes increasingly frictionless, much of the emotional and tactile value once tied to listening is being lost. Streaming platforms prioritise convenience and algorithms over presence and intentionality, leaving little space for reflection or ritual.
This project responds to that shift reimagining the music player not as a screen-dominated utility, but as a physical, sensory experience. D-F1 positions itself against passive digital culture, offering a more human, grounded alternative to how we engage with music today.
