How do dancers want to use interactive technology? Appropriation and layers of meaning beyond traditional movement mapping

There has been an increased interest in HCI research regarding the possibilities of interactive technology applied to the field of dance performance, particularly contemporary dance. This has produced numerous strategies to capture data from the moving bodies of the dancers and to map that data into different types of display formats. In this paper, we look at the role of interactive technology in dance performance from a broader perspective, aiming at understanding the needs of dancers and their relation with the audience. To this end, we ran a focus group with ten dancers with expertise in technology. We analysed the focus group using thematic analysis. We discuss the implications for design of our results by framing the role of technology in dance performance, proposing design guidelines related to the communication to the audience, use of technology, and mapping. Moreover, we propose different levels of ambiguity and appropriation related to the creators of the performance and the audience

Programming by Moving: Interactive Machine Learning for Embodied Interaction Design

Interactive Machine Learning is a promising approach for designing movement interaction because it allows creators to implement even complex movement designs by simply performing them with their bodies. We introduce a new tool, InteractML and accompanying ideation method, being developed to make movement interaction design faster, adaptable and accessible to creators of varying experience and backgrounds. By closing the gap between ideation and implementation stages of designing movement interaction, we hope to apply embodied sketching all the way through the creation process, supporting the design of more expressive and reflective range of movement interaction

Connected layers: evaluating visualizations of embodiment in contemporary dance performances

There has been a growing interest in interactive visuals in contemporary dance performances. These visuals often rely on embodied interaction techniques, such as motion capture or biosignal sensors. However, there is a lack of research into how audience members experience these interactive visuals, and how to enhance that experience. We conducted an audience study, involving four different dance performances. Each of the performances explored a different approach for interaction involving visuals. We collected data from audience members, regarding their experience of the performances, using questionnaires and interviews. The analysis of this data allows us to identify implications for design: balancing trade-offs within a mapping clarity spectrum; connecting layers; visuals as co-creative mediator; defined territory and individuality of visuals; exploration of perspective shift and abstract fragmentation. We argue that these considerations are relevant for designers of systems visualizing embodied interaction, not just for dance, but also for other related applications

Motion Hollow: A WebVR experience for annotating movement qualities on dance content

Η εκτενής έρευνα που πραγματοποιείται στον τομέα της ανάλυσης κίνησης έχει οδηγήσει στη δημιουργία πολλών θεωρητικών πλαισίων και κανονισμών για την αναγνώριση και επισημείωση κινητικών ποιοτήτων που παρατηρούνται στην ανθρώπινη κίνηση. Παρά το γεγονός αυτό, τα πλαίσια αυτά είναι δυσνόητα για ανθρώπους με ελάχιστο ή μηδενικό επιστημονικό υπόβαθρο σχετικό με τον τομέα. Για αυτό τον λόγο, η διαδικασία επισημείωσης κινητικών ποιοτήτων από απλούς χρήστες παρουσιάζει μέχρι στιγμής πολλές δυσκολίες. Η πτυχιακή αυτή στοχεύει στην επίλυση αυτού του προβλήματος, αναπτύσσοντας μια διαδικτυακή εφαρμογή επισημείωσης των κινητικών ποιοτήτων που παρατηρούνται στην κίνηση τρισδιάστατων ανθρωπόμορφων μοντέλων που εκτελούν χορευτικές κινήσεις. Η εφαρμογή παραθέτει στον χρήστη ένα σύνολο προτάσεων που περιγράφουν με απλό τρόπο τις διάφορες ποιότητες και ζητά από τον χρήστη να επιλέγει ποιές θεωρεί ορθές για κάθε χορευτική κίνηση που συναντά. Η πτυχιακή αυτή ερευνά επίσης τους διάφορους τρόπους που μπορεί η εφαρμογή να γίνει πιο ελκυστική για τον χρήστη, έτσι ώστε να τον παρακινεί να ολοκληρώσει την εμπειρία. Γι’αυτό το λόγο, για την ανάπτυξη της εφαρμογής επιλέχθηκε ο συνδυασμός του MEAN Stack μοντέλου και του A-Frame, μιας τεχνολογίας που χρησιμοποιείται συχνά για την ανάπτυξη 3D/VR/AR διαδικτυακών εμπειριών. Μετά την ολοκλήρωση της ανάπτυξης του πρωτοτύπου, πραγματοποιήθηκε διαμορφωτική αξιολόγηση με 8 χρήστες. Κατά τη διάρκεια της αξιολόγησης, προτάθηκαν εναλλακτικές για την βελτίωση της ευχρηστίας και του περιεχομένου της εμπειρίας, δίνοντας χώρο και στην ανάδειξη πιθανών μελλοντικών επεκτάσεων. Ωστόσο, παρά τα όποια ζητήματα, οι συμμετέχοντες δήλωσαν πως βρήκαν την εμπειρία ενδιαφέρουσα και ευχάριστη. Ολοκλήρωσαν την εμπειρία πληθοπορισμού δίχως να χάσουν το ενδιαφέρον τους, κάτι το οποίο δεν συμβαίνει συχνά σε παρόμοιες δραστηριότητες και καθιστά αυτή τη πτυχιακή επιτυχημένη στον στόχο της.There are a lot of conceptual frameworks derived from the extensive research conducted in the field of movement analysis that are being used in the process of the identification and annotation of qualities in movement. However, these frameworks are not easily comprehensible by people with minimal or no scientific context related to the field, especially when used raw without being molded and expressed in a more user-friendly manner. In the interest of tackling this problem, this thesis covers the process of developing a web-based crowd-sourcing experience where a set of simple questions are used as a theoretical framework for the annotation of movement qualities in dance moves performed by 3D animated models. This thesis also investigates ways of making the crowdsourcing experience more appealing, in order to encourage the full engagement of the users. Therefore, the MEAN Stack model was chosen along with A-Frame, a web framework for building 3D/AR/VR experiences, for the development of the application. After developing a first prototype for the experience, a formative evaluation was carried out. 8 people participated in the evaluation suggesting improvements regarding the usability and the content of the experience. Moreover, the participants’ feedback led to the formation of ideas regarding possible future extensions. In conclusion, setting all issues aside, all the participants found the experience very interesting and pleasant. They were able to complete the whole experience without losing interest, a fact which is not frequently the case when it comes to crowdsourcing activities and renders this thesis successful in its goal