# Gesture Melody Makers Utamin Creates Tunes with the Wave of the Hand By Matt Ho | Published 2011-11-12 | Life-Stages Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/utamin References: [engadget](http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/09/utamin-the-adorable-theremin-like-toy-thats-a-great-gift-for/) & [diginfo](http://www.diginfo.tv/2011/11/09/11-0235-f-en.php) One of the most entertaining toys I’ve come across is the Utamin, which is a music toy that isn’t your regular melody maker. The Utamin is a little different from the standard music toy, as it encourages the child to make their own tunes. There’s an infrared sensor within the toy that will read an individual’s hand gesture and produce sound through various actions. It’s basically the kiddy version of the Theramin, only it doesn’t produce an eerie sound. The toy also has several modes for the child to enjoy. For example, there’s a mode with [pre-programmed melodies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sound-maestro) that plays [nursery rhymes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tonies) and one that allows composition based on all the notes on the musical scale. Two separate toys can also be linked up to make music together thanks to the infrared sensor. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.9/10 - Popularity: 10% | Activity: 10% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Gen Alpha - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages) > [Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/toys) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Gesture-based Music Toys:** The rise of gesture-based music toys like the Utamin allows children to create their own tunes through hand gestures, promoting creativity and individual expression. - **Interactive Sensor Technology:** Infrared sensor technology, as seen in the Utamin toy, opens up opportunities for interactive and immersive play experiences in various industries. - **Collaborative Music Making:** Toys with infrared sensor capabilities, such as the Utamin, enable collaborative music-making experiences and foster social interaction during playtime. ### Where This Applies - **Toy Manufacturing:** The toy manufacturing industry can explore the integration of infrared sensor technology to develop innovative, gesture-based music toys that engage children in interactive and imaginative play. - **Music Education:** Incorporating gesture-based music toys, like the Utamin, in music education programs can enhance the learning experience by making it more engaging and interactive for students. - **Entertainment:** Gesture-based music toys with infrared sensors have disruptive potential in the entertainment industry, offering unique and interactive experiences for audiences of all ages. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Tactile Interactive Music Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yamaha.md) - [Hand-Sensing Musical Instruments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/roli-airwave.md) - [Compactly Portable Theremins](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/theremins.md) - [Teatime-Inspired Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/musical-tea-set-toy.md) - [Engaging Musical Humanoid Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/toy-robot-concept.md) - [Inclusively Designed Music Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ovo-melody-toy.md) - [Kid-Friendly Synth Kits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fourstep-sequencer.md) - [Quirky Strummable Synths](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/electronic-synth.md) - [Modernized Analog Theremins](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/theremin.md)