Yinmiao Li | Haptic Breathing Guidance: A wearable device in flute learning

 
Haptic interfaces have made improvements in music learning. They allow flute learners
to practice without an instructor and reduce the difficulties of learning music notations
and terms. For example, using a haptic interface to learn flute fingering positions
increases the learning rate and decreases the rate of forgetting compared with learning
from videos. While flute performance consists of both fingering and breathing,
existing haptic interfaces only deal with fingering positions. Research on technology-aided breathing guidance mostly presents visual guidance or audio guidance methods.
Haptic interfaces related to breathing are not used as guiding methods but to measure the
users’ body position while breathing and provide feedback accordingly. Therefore, I
intend to expand flute learning methods from partial haptic guidance to full haptic
guidance.
I designed four haptic interfaces for breathing. These wearable devices haptically
instruct flute learners on breathing control while playing the flute. The research intends to
examine the users’ acceptance of these haptic devices for breathing.
By comparing these different designs, I will find the design that can successfully lead the
learners’ breath, make the learners feel comfortable when wearing it and be easily used
by learners. After finding the most appropriate design, I will conduct user testing
focusing on the adaptability and usability of the device on users by making observations
and doing interviews.