Sensory tech for inclusive performances at Melbourne Design Week

People living with disability will have the world of music opened to them at this year's Melbourne Design Week, with performances involving hi-tech instruments that use sensory technology to convert movement into sound and visuals. AirSticks 2.0 are the latest in a string of gestural musical instruments developed at Monash University's SensiLab that allow musicians and dancers to trigger and manipulate sounds and visuals through body movement. They will be used in new works by five pioneering physical artists over three concerts, in a partnership between SensiLab researchers - part of the Faculty of Information Technology - Melbourne Design Week and the Jolted inclusive performance space. AirSticks 2.0 look like drumsticks and are able to convert movement into sound and visuals through in-built sensory technology. The drumsticks can be handled easily and make the art of music creation accessible to a diverse range of performers, including those living with disability. SensiLab researcher and co-designer of Airsticks 2.0, musician Dr Alon Ilsar, said many people with disability are not given the opportunity to find their musical creative outlets, particularly as the vast majority of instruments are designed by people without disability, for people without disability. "AirSticks 2.0 can be customised for the individual to promote creative musical improvisation and emotive responses for people with cognitive and physical limitations.