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Sketchument: Empowering users to build DMIs through prototyping

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 November 2013

Filipe Calegario*
Affiliation:
Centro de Informática, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Luis Freire, s/n, Cidade Universitária. Recife – PE, Brasil. CEP: 50740-540
Jerônimo Barbosa*
Affiliation:
Centro de Informática, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Luis Freire, s/n, Cidade Universitária. Recife – PE, Brasil. CEP: 50740-540
Geber Ramalho*
Affiliation:
Centro de Informática, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Luis Freire, s/n, Cidade Universitária. Recife – PE, Brasil. CEP: 50740-540
Giordano Cabral*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Estatística e Informática, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n. Dois Irmãos. Recife – PE, Brasil, CEP: 52171-900
Gabriel Finch*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Estatística e Informática, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n. Dois Irmãos. Recife – PE, Brasil, CEP: 52171-900

Abstract

New interface artefacts are changing the way we interact with machines, and this is particularly important for the musical domain. Conversely, the growing do-it-yourself (DIY) culture is subverting the manufacturer–consumer model. Regarding music, software such as Pure Data and Max/MSP allows users to build their own interactive systems. These factors contribute to the emergence of new digital musical instruments (DMI). However, DMI creation still requires a strong technical background. Based on the importance of prototyping in the process of designing things, this paper presents the Sketchument, an environment devoted to help non-technical users to easily prototype DMIs, using multiple input modes and allowing the integration to other useful technologies. From a lo-fi paper prototype, to functional ones, passing through movies, questionnaires, interviews, Sketchument has been developed following the same prototyping philosophy we intend to propose to its users. The cyclic process of design–implementation-evaluation has produced valuable feedback from potential users, which has been very useful to back design choices and to push modifications.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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