Metaphors and Technologies for new Tangible User Interfaces

Tangible user interfaces create the possibility to provide users with an exploratory, expressive and flexible access to musical interaction. However, new technologies and metaphors can additionally open up further opportunities and mental models for the design of new interaction concepts. In the scope of my thesis I explore new metaphors by designing and building new interfaces which finally explore these ideas and concepts. In addition to the conceptual work, the development of new technologies, which are necessary for the implementation of these concepts, is a central part of the work. In this paper I present the prototypes COMB and StringTouch and discuss potential application areas for the implementation of core ideas regarding both concepts.