ISIDM Introductory References: Interface design

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Table of contents
1 Initial Comments
2 Reading Suggestion
3 Basic References - general articles
4 Complementary References
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Initial Comments

The first point to consider here is what is meant by "interface design". The word "interface" has been used in the sense of "controller", or "input device" or also "control surface."

In computer music, the terms "interface", "controller" and "control surface" are sometimes used interchangeably. Conversely, in human-computer interaction (HCI), "interface" usually refers to the software interface, i.e. the use of windows, icons, etc. and "input device" is used meaning the hardware device with which the user inputs data to, or interacts with, the system.

Therefore, a "gestural controller" or "gestural interface," represents the part of a digital musical instrument where physical contact with the device takes place.


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Reading Suggestion

Various papers and some PhD thesis have been proposed on the design of digital musical instruments, more specifically on controller design (most of them are referenced below).

This literature is many times contradictory on the approach to the design. Some contributions stress the role of creativity and experimentation as the sole to allow an interesting design. Others try to examine similar situations in other domains (human-computer interaction, engineering, etc.) and describe the possibilities and pros and cons of adapting design methodologies from other fields. It is to the reader to choose her/his approach...

To start with:

  • The excellent article by Joel Ryan about instrument design at Steim. Although not only focused on gestural controllers, it gives a complete picture of the problem.
  • The round table coordinated by Marc Battier, Marcelo M. Wanderley and Butch Rovan published in Trends in Gestural Control of Music. (http://www.cdemusic.org/store/cde_search.cfm?keywords=mb186) It gathers oppinions of nine key designers and users of gestural controllers -- Don Buchla, Bill Buxton, Chris Chafe, Tod Machover, Max Matthews, Robert Moog, Jean-Claude Risset, Laetitia Sonami, and Michel Waisvisz -- on their own experience and on their expectations for the future of this field.
  • The contributions by several researchers to the NIME Workshop (http://www.csl.sony.co.jp/person/poup/research/chi2000wshp/), at CHI 2001 (http://www1.acm.org/sigs/sigchi/chi2001/). A workshop organized by Ivan Poupyrev, Michael J. Lyons, Sidney Fels, and Tina Blaine (Bean) featuring 14 papers on gestural controller design.
  • Check also the online proceedings of the NIME02 International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression (http://www.mle.ie/nime/Proceedings/index.htm), held in Dublin in May 2002 and of the recent NIME03 Conference hosted by McGill University in May 2003 (NIME03 articles can be found here).


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Basic References - general articles


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Complementary References


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