Andreas Almqvist and Emma Frid
This paper investigates how the Microsoft Kinect camera can be used in playful music applications. The aim of the study was to gain knowledge on how the Kinect can be used in a motion capture based musical toy. A focus group in combination with prototype testing of a simple beat machine controlled by a Kinect was used, in order to examine the limitations and possibilities of a Kinect interface. In addition, the commercial interest for a musical toy based on Kinect was investigated. The subjects in the study consisted of youths of age 21-28 years with variable musical interest. It was found that there was a considerable interest for a product based on the musical toy prototype among the subjects. However a majority felt that this system would not be well suited for professional music applications. The biggest problem identified during the prototype testing was the latency inherent within the system. This, and the fact that motion capture data retrieved from a Kinect is somewhat imprecise, makes the camera more suitable for entertainment applications than for instruments with high precision requirements. After receiving feedback from the prototype tests, a final improved prototype was developed. No further user tests were carried out for this prototype.