Designing and evaluating virtual musical instruments: facilitating conversational user interaction

Johnston, A; Candy, L; Edmonds, E

Designing and evaluating virtual musical instruments: facilitating conversational user interaction

Johnston, A

Candy, L Edmonds, E

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Design Studies, 2008, 29 (6), pp. 556 - 571
Issue Date:: 2008-11-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Johnston, A https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8306-7507	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Candy, L	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Edmonds, E	en_US
dc.date.issued	2008-11-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Design Studies, 2008, 29 (6), pp. 556 - 571	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0142-694X	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/9795
dc.description.abstract	This paper is concerned with the design of interactive virtual musical instruments. An interaction design strategy which uses on-screen objects that respond to user actions in physically realistic ways is described. This approach allows musicians to 'play' the virtual instruments using the sound of their familiar acoustic instruments. An investigation of user experience identified three modes of interaction that characterise the musicians' approach to the virtual instruments: instrumental, ornamental and conversational. When using the virtual instruments in instrumental mode, musicians prioritise detailed control; in ornamental mode, they surrender detailed control to the software and allow it to transform their sound; in conversational mode, the musicians allow the virtual instrument to 'talk back', helping to shape the musical direction of performance much as a human playing partner might. Finding a balance between controllability and complexity emerged as a key issue in facilitating 'conversational' interaction. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Design Studies	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.destud.2008.07.005	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Design Practice & Management	en_US
dc.title	Designing and evaluating virtual musical instruments: facilitating conversational user interaction	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	6	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	29	en_US
utslib.for	1203 Design Practice and Management	en_US
utslib.for	0806 Information Systems	en_US
utslib.for	1201 Architecture	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Computer Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Software
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - HCTD - Human Centred Technology Design
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.issue	6	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	29	en_US

Abstract:

This paper is concerned with the design of interactive virtual musical instruments. An interaction design strategy which uses on-screen objects that respond to user actions in physically realistic ways is described. This approach allows musicians to 'play' the virtual instruments using the sound of their familiar acoustic instruments. An investigation of user experience identified three modes of interaction that characterise the musicians' approach to the virtual instruments: instrumental, ornamental and conversational. When using the virtual instruments in instrumental mode, musicians prioritise detailed control; in ornamental mode, they surrender detailed control to the software and allow it to transform their sound; in conversational mode, the musicians allow the virtual instrument to 'talk back', helping to shape the musical direction of performance much as a human playing partner might. Finding a balance between controllability and complexity emerged as a key issue in facilitating 'conversational' interaction. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/9795