As part of the research project Tangible Signals multiple interactive physical sound displays were developed by Jens Vetter in collaboration with Erich Schmid, a blind composer, musician and teacher at the Institute for the Blind (BBI) in Vienna. The main focus of the research project was the artistic exploration of tangible musical interaction  for visually impaired and blind musicians in the context of accessibility and computer music. The research  was supervised by Martin Kaltenbrunner and conducted at the Tangible Music Lab at the University of Arts Linz, Austria.

more info at: tamlab.kunstuni-linz.at 

 

 

 

live composition with tangible musical interfaces

Live composition based on tangible musical interaction using three devices developed during the research project Tangible Signals. The devices interact with a custom software written in SuperCollider and enable interactive control of features such as play & mute states, volume & panorama values, as well as envelope settings of the delay effects.

 

 

live concert by  Erich Schmid in Vienna

 

Live concert Stimmungen (Moods) by Erich Schmid at the OCC - Austrian Computer Camp for visually impaired and blind children 2023 at the BBI Vienna. The concert took place as part of the research project Tangible Signals. 

Thanks to Elisa Unger for camera, photos and technical support.

 

 

 

 

Tangible Musical Interfaces - Prototyping and Development

Tangible Pins, Tangible String, Tangible Wheel (from top to bottom)

 

 

Three tangible musical interfaces were developed between 2019 and 2023 in collaboration with Erich Schmid and the Institute for the Blind (BBI) Vienna, and with feedback from visually impaired and blind experts.

Below an overview of the various development stages in pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related Publications

Vetter, J. 2025. Tangible Signals - Physical Representation of Sound and Embodied Control Feedback. Kunstuniversität Linz. https://doi.org/10.57697/J9YX-JX98

Vetter, J., Kaltenbrunner, M., Schmid, E. 2024. Sonic Interactions - Towards Accessible Digital Music-Making. In: Miesenberger, K., Peňáz, P., Kobayashi, M. (eds) Computers Helping People with Special Needs. ICCHP 2024. link

Jens Vetter. 2020. WELLE - a web-based music environment for the blind. NIME '20, Birmingham, United Kingdom. link pdf

Jens Vetter. 2019. Tangible Signals - Physical Representation of Sound and Haptic Control Feedback. TEI '19: International Conference on Tangible, Embedded and Embodied Interaction Tempe, USA. link pdf