Xyborg: A Wearable Hand-based Instrument for Musical Expression

Kristian Eicke, Stefano Fasciani, and Çağrı Erdem

Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression

Abstract:

This paper describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of Xyborg, a wearable instrument designed to leverage hand input gestures and arm movements. Xyborg's aims include developing a low-cost musical instrument, providing the performer with expressive control over sound parameters, and establishing a transparent connection between gestures and the resulting sounds for spectators. The design of this instrument prioritizes controllable sonic features and a fixed comprehensible mapping between gestures and sounds, rather than aiming for a broad range of functions and variable mapping. The participants in the evaluation unanimously agreed on the potential for long-term engagement and recognized Xyborg as an instrument that enables expressive sound control through movement, emphasizing its skill-based nature.

Citation:

Kristian Eicke, Stefano Fasciani, and Çağrı Erdem. 2024. Xyborg: A Wearable Hand-based Instrument for Musical Expression. Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.13904921

BibTeX Entry:

  @article{nime2024_69,
 abstract = {This paper describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of Xyborg, a wearable instrument designed to leverage hand input gestures and arm movements. Xyborg's aims include developing a low-cost musical instrument, providing the performer with expressive control over sound parameters, and establishing a transparent connection between gestures and the resulting sounds for spectators. The design of this instrument prioritizes controllable sonic features and a fixed comprehensible mapping between gestures and sounds, rather than aiming for a broad range of functions and variable mapping. The participants in the evaluation unanimously agreed on the potential for long-term engagement and recognized Xyborg as an instrument that enables expressive sound control through movement, emphasizing its skill-based nature.},
 address = {Utrecht, Netherlands},
 articleno = {69},
 author = {Kristian Eicke and Stefano Fasciani and Çağrı Erdem},
 booktitle = {Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression},
 doi = {10.5281/zenodo.13904921},
 editor = {S M Astrid Bin and Courtney N. Reed},
 issn = {2220-4806},
 month = {September},
 numpages = {6},
 pages = {474--479},
 presentation-video = {https://youtu.be/TfBJ1B59N0E?si=-g4J9ExiEyd9QyWE},
 title = {Xyborg: A Wearable Hand-based Instrument for Musical Expression},
 track = {Papers},
 url = {http://nime.org/proceedings/2024/nime2024_69.pdf},
 year = {2024}
}