Evaluating a Sonic Interaction Design Based on a Historic Theatre Sound Effect

TY - JOUR

T1 - Evaluating a Sonic Interaction Design Based on a Historic Theatre Sound Effect

AU - Keenan, Fiona

AU - Pauletto, Sandra

N1 - This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy.

PY - 2022/8/1

Y1 - 2022/8/1

N2 - This paper reports on the procedure and results of a preliminary experiment to evaluate participants’ perceptual experiences of a mechanical theatre sound effect and its digital counterpart. The theatre sound effect chosen - an acoustic wind machine - affords a simple rotational gesture; turning its crank handle at varying speeds produces a convincing wind-like sound. A prototype digital model of a working acoustic wind machine was programmed. The mechanical interface of the acoustic wind machine drove both the digital model and its own acoustic sound in performance, therefore preserving the same tactile and kinaesthetic feedback across the two continuous sonic interactions. Participants were presented with two listening tests to examine the perceived similarity of these wind-like sounds and the perceived connection between the speed of the crank handle and the resulting sound. Participants’ performances of both the acoustic and digital systems were then elicited with sound stimuli pro- duced from simple gestural performances of the wind-like sounds. The results of this study show that, while the sound of the prototype digital model requires further calibration to bring the experience of its performance closer to that of its acoustic counterpart, the acoustic wind machine is significantly easier to play, and the mechanism of its interface may play a role in perceptually guiding performance gestures.

AB - This paper reports on the procedure and results of a preliminary experiment to evaluate participants’ perceptual experiences of a mechanical theatre sound effect and its digital counterpart. The theatre sound effect chosen - an acoustic wind machine - affords a simple rotational gesture; turning its crank handle at varying speeds produces a convincing wind-like sound. A prototype digital model of a working acoustic wind machine was programmed. The mechanical interface of the acoustic wind machine drove both the digital model and its own acoustic sound in performance, therefore preserving the same tactile and kinaesthetic feedback across the two continuous sonic interactions. Participants were presented with two listening tests to examine the perceived similarity of these wind-like sounds and the perceived connection between the speed of the crank handle and the resulting sound. Participants’ performances of both the acoustic and digital systems were then elicited with sound stimuli pro- duced from simple gestural performances of the wind-like sounds. The results of this study show that, while the sound of the prototype digital model requires further calibration to bring the experience of its performance closer to that of its acoustic counterpart, the acoustic wind machine is significantly easier to play, and the mechanism of its interface may play a role in perceptually guiding performance gestures.

KW - sonic interaction design

KW - digital musical instrument

KW - enactive

KW - experiment design

KW - theatre sound effect

U2 - 10.1016/j.ijhcs.2022.102836

DO - 10.1016/j.ijhcs.2022.102836

M3 - Article

SN - 1071-5819

VL - 164

JO - International Journal of Human-Computer Studies

JF - International Journal of Human-Computer Studies

M1 - 102836

ER -