Force Dynamics as a Design Framework for Mid-Air Musical Instruments

In this paper we adopt the theory of force dynamics in human cognition as a fundamental design principle for the development of mid-air musical interfaces. We argue that this principle can provide more intuitive user experiences when the interface does not provide direct haptic feedback – such as interfaces made with various gesture-tracking technologies. Grounded in five concepts from the theoretical literature on force dynamics in musical cognition, the paper presents a set of principles for interaction design focused on five force schemas: Path restraint, Containment restraint, Counter-force, Attraction, and Compulsion. We describe an initial set of examples that implement these principles using a Leap Motion sensor for gesture tracking and SuperCollider for interactive audio design. Finally, the paper presents a pilot experiment that provides initial ratings of intuitiveness in the user experience.