Marble track audio manipulator (MTAM): a tangible user interface for audio composition

Authors:
Alex Bean;Sabina Siddiqi;Anila Chowdhury;Billy Whited;Orit Shaer;Robert J. K Jacob
Affiliations:
Tufts University, Medford, MA;Tufts University, Medford, MA;Tufts University, Medford, MA;Tufts University, Medford, MA;Tufts University, Medford, MA;Tufts University, Medford, MA
Venue:
Proceedings of the 2nd international conference on Tangible and embedded interaction
Year:
2008

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Abstract

We created a tangible user interface that allows children to create musical compositions through constructive play. Our Marble Track Audio Manipulator (MTAM) is an augmented marble tower construction kit where marbles represent sound clips and tracks represent different sound effects. To create musical compositions, children collaboratively build a marble tower and then play their compositions by dropping marbles into the tower. As marbles roll through the tower children can interact with the marbles and thus improvise and alter their musical compositions. By augmenting a popular toy, physically representing sound clips and effects as well as allowing improvisation, the MTAM system provides children with a creative, playful, and engaging encounter with music.