Music-Touch: De-tactile Interactive Music Controller Design

In recent years, as human-computer interaction (HCI) technology continues to evolve, it has become increasingly integrated with digital musical instruments, further extending the traditional notion of the instrument as an extension of the musician’s body. In this study, we explored this area of innovation and successfully designed a light-sensitive interactive music controller called “Music-Touch”, which is characterised by its de-tactile interaction. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the interaction patterns between players and the controller, we invited 12 professional musicians to learn and play Music-Touch. Through systematic testing and semi-structured interviews with these performers, we carefully analysed the subtle relationship between the design of the Music-Touch controller and their performance techniques, and explored the profound impact of the design on their performance styles and interactive music-making. Based on this, we have constructed an efficient and practical design model for interactive music controllers, aiming to bring a richer performance experience and musical inspiration to a wide range of performers.