The Sponge A Flexible Interface
Martin Marier · New Interfaces for Musical Expression · 2010
The sponge is an interface that allows a clear link to be established between gesture and sound in electroacoustic music. The goals in developing the sponge were to reintroduce the pleasure of playing and to improve the interaction between the composer/performer and the audience. It has been argued that expenditure of eort or energy is required to obtain expressive interfaces. The sponge favors an energy-sound relationship in two ways : 1) it senses acceleration, which is closely related to energy; and 2) it is made out of a exible material (foam) that requires eort to be squeezed or twisted. Some of the mapping strategies used in a performance context with the sponge are discussed.