A Warehouse Inspection with Walkie-Talkie in Hand

The event is designed as a warehouse tour of the fictional logistics company "SixTONES STock," allowing visitors to move freely between the third and fourth floors of Ginza Sony Park at the Tokyo venue. After being given a smartphone to act as their walkie-talkie for the event, visitors scan QR codes scattered throughout the venue as part of their warehouse inspection, allowing them to access commentary and videos featuring the SixTONES members.

At certain points during the experience, participants' walkie-talkie screens can all simultaneously cut to certain visuals as the voices of the SixTONES members are played in the venue at the same time. This feature is enabled by smartphone-linked audio synchronization technology developed by Sony and SoVeC.

This technology synchronizes multiple smartphones with production equipment, such as large display screens and external speakers, with a high degree of precision. By linking personal devices with exhibit elements, the technology creates a more seamless and immersive experience for visitors.

In another part of the exhibit, participants encounter an incoming-call-style experience from SixTONES when they approach specific exhibit locations, where the members' voices are played directly through the provided smartphones. This feature uses spot-detection technology in conjunction with acoustic beacons, also developed by Sony and SoVeC. The smartphone microphone detects identification sounds emitted from speakers installed throughout the venue, allowing the system to identify each participant's location in real time and control the smartphone's playback of specific audio and video content according to location.

Enhancing Music Video Immersion with Floor Haptics

SixTONES STock also features an immersive exhibit using Active Slate, which incorporates Sony's floor haptics technology. Haptic technology refers to technology that artificially creates or simulates tactile sensations. Active Slate detects subtle changes in visitors' step pressure with a small number of sensors, enabling an interactive experience where the floor generates a variety of vibrations in response to a person's footsteps.

By installing Active Slate in the area displaying the music video for SixTONES' debut song "Imitation Rain," visitors are able to experience a simulated sensation of water around them as part of the exhibit. As the video is projected onto the wall, visual water-surface effects shift in sync with the video, while vibrations are generated in time with the members' dance movements.

Another exhibit is inspired by "9-Square Tag," a popular game segment on SixTONES' YouTube channel. Images are projected onto nine squares arranged in a 3 × 3 grid on the floor as the paths of each SixTONES member during an actual game are shown as footprints. Using floor haptics technology, each square vibrates when it's landed on.

SixTONES Performances on Large-Scale Displays

At SixTONES STock, visitors can also view SixTONES video works - including performances from the YouTube channel THE FIRST TAKE - on Crystal LED, Sony's high-definition large-scale LED display.

Crystal LED uses an array of ultrafine RGB LED elements which are each driven individually on the screen surface, enabling high contrast, a wide color gamut, and richly detailed visual expression. Through Crystal LED, visitors can experience SixTONES video works with a powerful sense of presence and immersion.

Linking Artists with Technology - an Event Unique to Sony

SixTONES has released a wide variety of music through Sony Music Labels, and now SixTONES STock presents the group's fiery individuality and creative ability through multiple angles, combining the artists' appeal with Sony's technology.

A member of the UX Creation Division at Sony PCL, which planned and produced SixTONES STock, explains: "By incorporating technology into the physical, analog experience of touring a warehouse that stores the vast body of creative works SixTONES has produced over the years, we aimed to transform the warehouse tour into a one-of-a-kind experience where the analog and digital can overlap. While the core of the experience remains as a physical encounter with this overwhelming volume of creativity, the technology is designed to complement and enhance that encounter."

A representative from Sony Music Labels also commented: "SixTONES is a group whose members are constantly craving new music and new forms of expression. By bringing them together with the strength of the Sony Group, we hope to offer fans an experience that can only be realized with SixTONES."

Sony will continue to work with artists and creators to deliver entertainment experiences using technology to together create Kando (emotion).