What is circuit bending ?

Circuit bending is an experimental electronic technique that involves creatively modifying or "bending" the circuits of low-voltage electronic devices, typically battery-powered toys, synthesizers, or other consumer electronics, to create new and often unpredictable sounds or visual effects. Here's a more detailed definition:

1. Core Concept: Circuit bending is the deliberate short-circuiting of electronic devices to produce unexpected results, primarily for creative or artistic purposes.
2. Origin of the Term: The term "circuit bending" was coined by Reed Ghazala in 1992, though the practice itself began earlier.
3. Key Characteristics:

• Improvisation: Much of circuit bending involves experimentation and chance.
• Low-voltage focus: For safety reasons, circuit bending typically involves battery-powered devices.
• DIY ethos: It's rooted in a do-it-yourself approach to music and art creation.
• Non-destructive: Ideally, circuit bending modifications are reversible.

4. Common Techniques:

• Adding switches, potentiometers, or other components to create new connections or controls.
• Connecting different points on a circuit board to create new audio or visual effects.
• Removing or bypassing certain components to alter the device's function.

5. Artistic Context: Circuit bending is considered a form of hardware hacking and is often associated with electronic music, sound art, and glitch art.
6. Cultural Significance: It represents a form of creative reuse and a critique of planned obsolescence in consumer electronics.
7. Broader Definition: While originally focused on sound-producing devices, the term has expanded to include visual electronics (like video equipment) and even digital circuit bending.
8. Risk Factor: Circuit bending carries the risk of damaging the device being modified and potential safety hazards, so practitioners are advised to take precautions.

In essence, circuit bending is a creative practice that turns consumer electronics into unique instruments or art pieces by exploiting and expanding upon their existing circuitry in unintended ways.