More information can be found here: tiii.be/projects/drumduino The Drum Duino is a novel device that makes music or rhythmical sounds using any object as percussive instrument. The rhythmical sounds follow the drum patterns that are programmed using a tangible user interface. The main focus in this project was to design a tangible link combined with digital processing and physical output. This physical output is then transferred into audible sounds so it becomes a novel instrument. In addition it is a fun instrument to use because the user can experiment with different sounds using common objects found in his environment. Many of us may have grown up playing and learning music through beating and tapping on any object we could find in our vicinity. The more creative the user is, the more exciting the music gets. Both shape and material of the chosen objects will determine the sound that will be created by the tapping of the Drum Duino device.

1. Playful Interaction: Designing and Evaluating a
Tangible Rhythmic Musical Interface
Cesar Vandevelde Peter Conradie!
cesar.vandevelde@ugent.be
peter.conradie@ugent.be
Jolien De Ville Jelle Saldien!
jolien.deville@ugent.be
jelle.saldien@ugent.be

2. Tangible Music Interfaces
• Increased accessibility
• Sensory engagement
• Group use and concurrent
use
Advances in DIY hardware
• Laser cutting
• 3D printing
• Electronics platforms (e.g.
Arduino)

3. Sounds Pegs
Brennan 2013
Block Jam
Newton-dunn & Gib 2003
FirstAct electronic drumsticks
Small & Izen 2011
Radio Baton
Mathews 1991
Physical artifacts
that manipulate
digital sound

4. Overtone
Overholt 2005
Haptic Drum
Holland et al. 2010
Augmented
Instruments

5. DrumDuino
DrumTop
Troyer 2012
Physical sound generation
using everyday objects

6. object / surface Drum Duino Actuator!
actuator
solenoid
push rod
Sound is generated
through the physical
impact of the push rod
against an object.
Each actuator is color-coded
to correspond to
one specific channel.

8. Select active channel!
Stores previous channel’s
pattern in memory when
changing.
Beat: enabled!
Beat: disabled!
Change speed!
Control panel
Shape mimics the visual
language of a Djembe
Drum.
Allows users to interact
with up to three solenoid
actuators
Pattern indicators!
Displays stored pattern,
blinks to indicate active
position.

10. Version 1!
Version 3!
Version 2!

11. Method
Participants
• Co-discovery (constructive
interaction)
• Preadolescents from a
technology hobby club
• 5 pairs of 2 children
• Aged between 8 and 11.
Setup
• Short demonstration
• 10 minutes of free
exploration
• Recreate familiar sounds
(clock, jackhammer)
• General questions about
their experiences

12. Results
What happened…
• The actuators were much
more captivating than the
control panel.
• Only after exploring many
surfaces and objects did
they start to change the
rhythm.
• Children prefer loud
objects.
• All groups agreed: “it
would be hard to make
music, but with enough
practice, it should be
possible.”

13. Discussion
Group use
• Concurrent use was
facilitated because of the
separate actuators.
• Actuators can be
programmed individually,
but always stay in sync.
Accessibility
• Children had no trouble
playing and generating
sounds.
• Low threshold of use!
Sensory Engagement
• Noise generated can be
considered annoying.
• … but fun to play with!
Future work
• Focus on the actuators.

14. Thank you! Questions?
Playful Interaction: Designing and Evaluating a
Tangible Rhythmic Musical Interface
Cesar Vandevelde Peter Conradie!
cesar.vandevelde@ugent.be
peter.conradie@ugent.be
Jolien De Ville Jelle Saldien!
jolien.deville@ugent.be
jelle.saldien@ugent.be