We have seen the future... and it is THIMBLETRONIC.

Recent work in has focused on the development of a new ... Our sample-based performing instrument, The Thimbletron, has been the focus of much of our research & development as well as product development for many years. Originally developed in The ECC's Research & Development wing (ECC Compound building 2), the Thimbletron was only possible following our discovery of a new element: Thimbletronium.

One special thing to note about the element is the appearance of a new particle in the nucleus: The Superdupertron. This element is also newly discovered, thanks to the diligence of ECC scientists and the completion of our new P/SA (Particle / Sample Accelerator), capable of accelerating particles to near the speed of light, and of accelerating song tempos to almost 500 BPM.

Now that you're familiar with the Thimbletronic element, you can better understand the nature of The ECC's newest performing instrument, The Thimbletron. The Thimbletron, as the name suggests, is constructed from 10 ordinary thimbles. Certain thimbles are comprised primarily of nickel (exactly 4 rows above thimbletronium on the new perioidic table of elements) which can be converted into thimbletronium using proprietary ECC methods.

For ease of use, the thimbles are mounted on cotton gloves. Wires connect each thimble to a power source and digital interface. Properly wired, the thimbles produce emissions of thimbletronic energy which are then detected by custom equipment. This equipment originally interfaced with a standard laptop computer running Operation Re-Information's Back To Basics software, but since version 3.0 of the Thimbletron Native Instruments' Reaktor software has been used. The end result is a sound triggered from the laptop through thimble manipulation.

The Thimbletron is in version 5.1 as of June, 2003, and is largely a stable instrument. Unfortunately, thimbletronic emissions during early experimentation have resulted in undetermined growths in the arms of early experimenters. Insulation of the conductive wires have been increased to reduce thimbletronic radiation. Even still, thimbletronic radiation can leak unexpected due to a mishap during a live performance. The audience is advised to attend Thimbletron performances at their own risk.

The Thimbletron received its major debut at the Creativo! Web & TV Festival in Milan, Italy during a performance on October 30th, 2000, after undergoing beta testing in Stuttgart, Hamburg, and Bielefeld Germany. The Thimbletron made it's American debut at The Big Noise #1 (December 2000) and was a phenomenal success.

Those on the ECC mailing list will receive development information as Thimbletron research continues.