Haptic Drum Kit
The Haptic Drum Kit consists of four computer-controlled vibrotactile devices, one attached to each wrist and ankle, that generate pulses to help a drummer play rhythmic patterns.
One aim is to foster rhythm skills and multi-limb coordination. Another aim is to systematically develop skills in recognizing, identifying, memorizing, analyzing, reproducing and composing monophonic and polyphonic rhythms.
A pilot study compared the efficacy of audio and haptic guidance for learning to play polyphonic drum patterns of varying complexity. Although novice drummers can learn intricate drum patterns using haptic guidance alone, the study found that most subjects prefer a combination of audio and haptic signals.
The Haptic Drumkit research is being carried out in collaboration with the Music Computing Lab, expert musicologists, drummers and music educators.