| Summary: | This thesis presents the developmental prototype of a gesturally controlled digital musical interface. It is
called Wii-bändi, as it uses Nintendo Wii controllers to translate the gestures into music, and is
constructed specifically for clients with a variety of physical and mental disabilities so that they can use it
in a therapeutic group context. It is argued that gestural and emotional expressivity might be based on a
theory of vitality affects, and that optimal learnability could be achieved through making use of learning
schemas. It then sets out how the interface was created using a methodological approach based on
action research, describing the specific contexts that led to the changes that were made to the set-up,
over a period of approximately one year (between November, 2008 and December, 2009). The research
is split into three cycles. The first explores the specific wishes of the group in question, establishing the
core members and core values for the group who are to use the interface; the second progressively
develops the interface along those lines as far as is possible, given the limits of the technological tools
available; and the third consolidates what has been achieved by finding the optimal way to use the
interface constructed. This was found to be a form of musical role play which is covered in greater detail
in the last chapter of results. Finally, there is discussion of how best to avoid some of the technical issues
that befell Wii-bändi, and the conclusion describes how the interface presents a viable model for using
modern music technology to work with disabled people in the future.
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