These projects include Hum On!, an app that transcribes hummed melodies into musical scores; Waffle, a social media platform that enables collaborative content creation; and Entrim 4D, a VR accessory that lets users feel the movements of the on-screen action. As the projects are still in the development stage, they are being showcased to assess their market potential and to gather feedback from attendees at Austin’s annual tech and music festival.

You can get hands-on with all three of these C-Lab projects at South by Southwest from March 13 to March 16, 2016. The projects will be showcased at Stand 1710 in Exhibit Hall 2 of the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas.

Hum On!: A Mobile App That Easily Turns Your Hums into Symphonies

Hum On! is an app that allows just about everyone—from industry veterans to the less tonally-aware—to score, arrange and share hummed melodies in mere minutes.

Think of it as a musical translator of sorts. The app records hummed melodies, instantly transcribes them into musical notation, and then plays it back to you using your preferred arrangement style: R&B, classical or rock.

You can then share your own unique songs via social media, or use them as background music in videos without having to worry about copyright infringement.

The app utilizes analysis software to detect the pitch and duration of a user’s voice, and machine learning to create a suitable accompaniment in the same way a musician considers melody and chords. Compared to similar existing programs, Hum On! is incredibly simple and user-friendly—two characteristics that make the app accessible to all.

“For hundreds of years, music has only been created by a select few, but that will no longer be the case,” explains David Choi, Creative Leader of the project. “With Hum On!, we aim to provide a platform where anyone can turn their inspiration into great music.”

The team is currently focused on improving the recognition accuracy of the app, and is even considering collaborating with musicians to provide more diverse, artist-inspired accompaniments in the future.

Waffle: A Social Media Platform That Enables Collaborative Content Creation

At any given moment, thousands upon thousands of people can be found plugged in and online, thumbs scrolling through social media feeds, eyes glued to seemingly unrelated photos and videos posted by their friends.

Yet, despite the diversity of current platforms, many share a common limitation. Namely, they only allow users to individually publish content.

Waffle, a new content-sharing application, hopes to change that. Boasting a user interface that resembles the grids on a waffle (hence the name), the app enables users to create a new feed of expandable content. They can also add to existing related content, as if contributing to a communal graffiti wall.

For example, a travel enthusiast might start a feed with a photograph taken on her latest trip to Tokyo. Then, others might add, say, a digital doodle of a sumo wrestler, a quote about traveling or an image of some beautifully plated sushi. In this way, Waffle offers a new, differentiated service that illustrates multiple points of view to generate a collaborative story.

“Waffle enables users to add their own perspective to someone else’s content, and vice versa,” says Joseph Kim, Creative Leader of the project. “These doodles, images and messages converge into entirely new content.”

Entrim 4D: A Motion Headset That Lets You Feel (and Not Just See) VR

With a virtual reality headset, the possibilities of what you can see are practically infinite. What you can physically feel, on the other hand, is far more limited, meaning experiences can be fairly restricted in terms of immersion.

But what if VR could trick the part of the ear that regulates your balance and motion into making you feel like you are a part of the excitement?

This is the idea behind Entrim 4D. Using a combination of algorithms and Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS), a safe and simple technique that sends specific electric messages to a nerve in the ear, the VR accessory synchronizes your body with changing movements in video content.

Electrical signals—like the ones used to help restore balance in stroke patients—are delivered via headphones equipped with electrodes that correspond with movement data input by engineers.

Users thus feel as if they are a part of the on-screen action, and can also sense direction and speed of movement. And, when paired with the team’s Drone FPV, which utilizes data from the drone’s motion sensors, they can even feel like they are flying.

In this regard, Entrim 4D aims to create an unrivaled entertainment experience, removing the need for expensive 4D motion chairs.

“Virtual reality shouldn’t be experienced only with the eyes,” says Steve Jung, Creative Leader of the project. “With Entrim 4D, we hope that people can experience VR the way it was meant to be—with their whole bodies.”

To ensure the best possible VR experience, the Entrim 4D team, made up of an eclectic mix of hardware professionals, software engineers and biomedical engineering experts, have conducted experiments on more than 1,500 people and developed 30 different movement patterns.

They are also working on a version that uses additional electrodes to create a sense of rotational motion.

But the team behind Entrim 4D also hopes that the device will help fix one of the major pain points of virtual reality: motion sickness.

Unsurprisingly, the mental discrepancy of seeing yourself riding a roller coaster or zooming around a race track but not actually experiencing the movement can leave you nauseous, dizzy and can even cause headaches. Entrim 4D, though still in a developmental phase, may well be able to present a new and practical solution.

Samsung Electronics announced their latest fashion collaboration surrounding the new Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note5. To pay homage to the fashion industry’s seasonal collection, Samsung partnered with a range of fashion tastemakers to unveil Samsung’s ahead of the curve smartphones. The creative concept highlights key features such as the dual edge display, improved video and camera system, the creatively driven S Pen, and fast wired and wireless charging, showcasing the connective power of technology.

The Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note5 are the latest innovations from Samsung. The Galaxy S6 edge+ features a dual edge display offering the ultimate multimedia experience, and the Galaxy Note5 fuels boundless creativity and productivity on-the-go. To introduce these devices, Samsung collaborated with famed fashion photographer Steven Klein and V Agency’s Creative Director Stephen Gan to develop the creative concept behind the lookbook, starring Bella Hadid and Xiao Wen Ju.

When asked about his inspiration behind the lookbook, Klein replied, “Some people think of technology as impersonal, but it is actually highly personal and emotional. Technology, like Samsung’s, connects people like never before. It’s this sense of connection that inspired us to highlight the range of emotions that even something as simple as a text message, photo or phone call can evoke”

Lookbook cover model Bella Hadid, who has a passion for photography and embraced the Galaxy S6 edge+, remarked, “I haven’t seen many tech companies create a campaign that’s this fashion-forward, so I loved being a part of it and bringing fashion and technology together in such a unique way!” When asked about her favorite aspect of the shoot, model Xiao Wen Ju replied, “I particularly loved the attention to detail in the shoot. From the emotions to the intricate styling, the shoot truly reflects the stunning details in the design of the devices.”

As showcased through this lookbook, the fashion and technology worlds are more inextricably intertwined than ever before. Both industries emulate, impact and inspire the other, further developing this increasing synergy between these great two cultural forces. Through the creation of this lookbook, Samsung continues its long history of bringing fashion and technology together through innovative collaborations and fashion-forward technology.

The availability and launch timing of both products vary by markets and mobile carriers. Both devices are available globally starting in August 2015. Both have 32GB or 64GB storage options and are available in White Pearl, Black Sapphire, Gold Platinum and Silver Titanium.

The Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note5 lookbook will be available for viewing and download at http://www.samsungmobilepress.com/unpacked2015ep2/Lookbook.