Hydraulophones

architectural sound art object located in Zadar, Croatia

former tidal organ in Blackpool, UK

sculpture in San Francisco, California, U.S.

A hydraulophone is a tonal acoustic musical instrument played by direct physical contact with water (sometimes other fluids) where sound is generated or affected hydraulically. The hydraulophone was described and named by Steve Mann in 2005, and patented in 2011. Typically, sound is produced by the same hydraulic fluid in contact with the player's fingers. It has been used as a sensory exploration device for low-vision individuals.