Midem paid for part of Chris O'Brien's travel to Cannes for the Midem Music Industry Festival, where he is participating as a startup competition judge. Our coverage remains objective.

The Internet of Things continues to be one of tech's most closely watched phenomena. Everyone wants to stick a sensor into everything to control it and gather data.

Some of these can seem a little obscure, like smart objects to improve manufacturing logistics. But music is one area where we can all relate -- and potentially benefit.

A wide range of companies are now trying to build gadgets that enhance our listening experience by understanding our behaviors and interests. There are some designers who are also trying to augment the physical experience of music and trying to reinvent the way we participate in music creation.

During the recent Midem conference, I was a judge for the startup competition for hardware and connected objects. (Watch all 2 hours here!) But in addition to the 10 startups that presented during that competition, there was a Discovery Area at Midem where several other gadgets and companies not in the official contested were exhibiting.

On the whole, these devices represent, at the moment, mostly potential. But as a huge music fan, that potential is intriguing. And I'm optimistic that at least a few might also generate more business and revenue opportunities that funnel cash into the pockets of artists.

On that note, here are 10 projects or gadgets worth trying if you can get your hands on them:

1. Prizm

Prizm (France)The pyramid-shaped Prizm claims to be "the first learning music player." The connected speaker can be linked to just about any streaming music service. But the twist is that it will monitor the moods of people in the room and, over time, learn how they are reacting to the music and then adjust the choices automatically. If an AI music speaker can really pull this off, I can see it becoming indispensable in many homes.

4. VideoStitch

VideoStitch (France)This software leverages a bank of GoPro cameras to stream a 360-degree view of a live concert (or any event) that can be watched on Oculus Rift, or really any VR goggles. Music rights issues are trickier here than some of the technical elements. But again, it's easy to imagine a lot of interest in VR live streams of certain concerts. I could even imagine paying a subscription for a service like that.

Here's a little sample stream from a boat made using VideoStitch:

The Sing-Song table is a ping-pong table that has sensors connected underneath. As the game progresses, the tapping of the ball adjusts the music to match the pace of play. Okay, so the market here is quite limited. Still, it shows how just about anything can become an instrument.

The Flex Sleeves project has a bit more market potential. A performer puts on the two armbands, and they can use them to control the mix of music and do things like Auto-Tune their voice. The bands also affect the visual display on the screen.