Exploring the Creation of Useful Interfaces for Music Therapists

Abstract

Music therapy is utilized worldwide to connect communities, strengthen mental and physiological wellbeing, and provide new means of communication for individuals with phonological, social, language, and other communication disorders. The incorporation of technology into music therapy has many potential benefits. Existing research has been done in creating user-friendly devices for music therapy clients, but these technologies have not been utilized due to complications in use by the music therapists themselves. This paper reports the iterative prototype design of a compact and intuitive device designed in close collaboration with music therapists across the globe to promote the usefulness and usability of prototypes. The device features interchangeable interfaces for work with diverse populations. It is portable and hand-held. A device which incorporates these features does not yet exist. The outlined design specifications for this device were found using human centered design techniques and may be of significant use in designing other technologies in this field. Specifications were created throughout two design iterations and evaluations of the device. In an evaluation of the second iteration of this device it was found that 5/8 therapists wanted to incorporate it into their practices.