Output details
34 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
University of Edinburgh
Choreohaptic Experiments
‘Haptic Experiments’ was an interdisciplinary practice-led exploration into how blind dance audience members can use their hands to experience live dance performances.
This project expands current research in the field of dance studies (see ‘Watching Dance’ project, www.watchingdance.org, led by Professor Dee Reynolds at the University of Manchester between 2008 and 2011) to a new area (blind dance audiences).
A prototype, ‘Choreo-haptic’, was completed as part of the first phase of the project, which was funded by the AHRC’s Digital Transformations Research Development fund (February – July 2012).
This device includes a haptic pad, on which blind users place their palms and fingers in order to receive vibrations which aim to make them feel aspects of the movement, such as softness or circular patterns, while dancers perform live. Microsoft Kinect technology was used to track movement and trigger vibrations in motors embedded in the pad that respond in real-time to data received from the Kinect.
‘Choreohaptic’ has generated enthusiastic responses amongst test users, and the prototype will be developed within 2013-14. One of the main outcomes of the development stage was the realisation that in order for the haptic pad to be designed most effectively and have its maximum effect on the user, it should be treated as a choreographic medium. Another outcome was the discovery that the ‘Choreo-haptic’ device can be used as an educational tool for blind children.
The research team included dance and education researchers as well as information technology specialists, all based at the University of Edinburgh.
Dr Sophia Lycouris (Principal Investigator)
Wendy Timmons (Co-investigator), School of Education
Dr Mark Wright (Co-investigator), School of Informatics
Dr John Ravenscroft (Co-investigator), School of Education
Stathis Vafeias (Research Assistant), School of Informatics
Lauren Hayes (Technical advisor), Edinburgh College of Art
John Newing (Participant)
