Non-Rigid Musical Interfaces: Exploring Practices, Takes, and Future Perspective

Non-rigid interfaces allow for exploring new interactive paradigms that rely on deformable input and shape change, and whose possible applications span several branches of human-computer interaction (HCI). While extensively explored as deformable game controllers, bendable smartphones, and shape-changing displays, non-rigid interfaces are rarely framed in a musical context, and their use for composition and performance is rather sparse and unsystematic. With this work, we start a systematic exploration of this relatively uncharted research area, by means of (1) briefly reviewing existing musical interfaces that capitalize on deformable input, and (2) surveying 11 among experts and pioneers in the field about their experience with and vision on non-rigid musical interfaces. Based on experts' input, we suggest possible next steps of musical appropriation with deformable and shape-changing technologies. We conclude by discussing how cross-overs between NIME and HCI research will benefit non-rigid interfaces.