Pulsar Kite: a study case for Sonic Ludic Interaction

In the recent decades, the field of designing interactive interfaces for sound has been benefited by technology developments on ubiquitous and portable computing systems, which enable to augment music expressions through the use of electronics and software to engage intuitively with a playful recreation. Although many efforts have been placed on creating completely new interfaces for sound expression, it is yet briefly explored the potential of merging new technologies with previously existing playful objects with a traditional background.

Moreover, the new sound and music interfaces hardly challenge the paradigm of performances in a staged scenario, which implies a fixed setup. Whereas a portable setup can improve site specific projects and allow sound art blend with nomadic practices. The design of playful artifacts for sound used in remote locations can learn from the experience collected in Pulsar Kite, a sonic interface aimed for single or social interaction between environment and an intuitive controlled sonic object.

This thesis explore methods from Sonic Interaction Design and Game Theory in order to augment the experience of kite as a play-game, while enhancing existing features that can be explored further in media art practices for interacting with the sonic environment.