Natural Materials on Stage : Custom Controllers for Aesthetic Effect

This article describes the implications of design and materials of computer controllers used in the context of interactive dance performance. Size, shape, and layout all influence audience perception of the performer, and materials imply context for further interpretation of the interactive performance work. It describes the construction of the "Control/Recorder" and the "VideoLyre," two custom computer control surfaces made for Leonardo's Chimes, a work by Toenjes, Marchant and Smith, and how these controllers contribute to theatrical aesthetic intent.