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MESSAGE FOLLOWS:
Dear all,
On Wednesday, 26th September at 2:00pm, Chris Nash will present the
seminar 'Supporting Virtuosity and Flow in Computer Music'.
Please note that the talk will take place in Eng 2.09 in the Electronic
Engineering building, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road,
London E1 4NS.
Directions on how to access the building can be found at
http://www.eecs.qmul.ac.uk/about/campus-map.php. If you are coming from
outside Queen Mary, please let me know, so I can make sure no-one is stuck
outside the doors.
If you wish to be added to / removed from our mailing list, please send me
an email and I'll be happy to do so.
Wednesday's seminar (26th September, 2:00pm):
Title:
Supporting Virtuosity and Flow in Computer Music
Speaker:
Chris Nash
Abstract:
This talk will discuss concepts, models, and empirical findings relating
to virtuosity, liveness and flow in the user experience of music
systems mediated by notation. Results from an extensive two-year
field study of over 1,000 sequencer and tracker users,
combining interaction logging, user surveys, and a video study, are
used to illustrate the properties of notations and interfaces
that facilitate greater immersion in musical activities and
domains, borrowing concepts from programming to illustrate the role of
visual and musical feedback, from the notation and domain respectively.
The Cognitive Dimensions of Notations framework and Csikszentmihalyi?s
flow theory are combined to demonstrate how non-realtime,
notation-mediated interaction can support focused, immersive, energetic,
and intrinsically-rewarding musical experiences, and to what extent they
are supported in the interfaces of music production software. These
concepts are illustrated through the example of soundtracking, which in
addition to supporting a rapid edit-audition editing cycle, also enables
users to develop virtuosity, facilitating a more embodied style of
interaction with notation. The research highlights several usability
issues with mainstream sequencers and DAWs, while drawing on the findings
to develop a general set design heuristics for music software.
Bio:
Chris Nash ([log in to unmask]) is a professional programmer and
composer, who recently completed a PhD on HCI in music at the University
of Cambridge. His research looks at theoretical and analytical methods for
modeling and designing interfaces for composition, supported by a
longitudinal study of over 1,000 tracker and sequencer users, empirically
investigating various aspects of the user experience, such as flow,
learning, virtuosity, creativity, feedback, and liveness. His work on
music software design has attracted attention from Yamaha, Cakewalk, and
Steinberg, the latter of which he joined for 6 months in 2009. Around his
research, he is the developer of the award-winning reViSiT tracker plugin,
and has written music for TV and radio, including the BBC.
Future C4DM seminars:
Nicolas Gold - University College London
Wed 3rd October 2012
--
Peter Foster
Postgraduate Research Student
Room 104, Electronic Engineering Bldg
Centre for Digital Music
Queen Mary, University of London
Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
email: [log in to unmask]
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