Visceral mobile music systems

Abstract

This paper describes a second-generation mobile music system that adds qualities of physical interaction to previous participative, networked, multiuser systems. We call upon traditions in interactive sensor music instrument building to inform this process. The resulting system underscores its dual personal/ community context awareness with a technique of hybrid audio display. This allows the system to exhibit qualities of reflexive social translucence providing a view of the group all while giving each member of the group a responsive sense of agency. The visceral mobile music system was tested in a theatre environment with manageable location tracking and creative non-musical test subjects. The combination of musical practice and interaction design establish artistic creativity as an important component of the research process.