A Space to Wonder: Movement and Sound Interaction through Biosensor Technology.

Klara Łucznik (Cognovo, Plymouth University, Plymouth UK) and Abigail Jackson (Cognovo, Plymouth University, Plymouth UK)

klara.lucznik@plymouth.ac.uk
abigail.jackson@plymouth.ac.uk

http://www.cognovo.eu/people/research-fellows/klara-lucznik.php

ABSTRACT:

Our experiential installation investigates shared embodied knowledge, in particular kinesthetic empathy, in creative social environments by exploring the benefits of combining the disciplines of The Arts and Sciences. Utilizing biosensor technology, and cognitive science research, within a movement session designed for public engagement for participants with limited dance experience, opens a discussion on the facilitation of shared embodied knowledge and kinesthetic empathy.

Presenting this in a black-box dance studio invites participant’s senses to be heightened, whilst encourage trusting relationships. Introducing biosensor interfaces, through wearable breath- bands, allows the participants’ breathing patterns to be sonified as the soundscape throughout the session, giving the group a layered experience of their bodily movement. The sound landscape, combined with facilitated somatic movement practices, highlights movement and sound interaction explorations through movement with others, whilst offering a collaborative environment transferable to a variety of communities.

This collaborative research project, facilitated by Abigail and Klara, explores personal embodied knowledge and the role of kinaesthetic empathy, when understanding others through embodied knowledge. This workshop will emulate an Interactive Installation whilst furthering discussions about somatic movement, and the use of biosensors for movement and sound interaction in research applying technology to support and understand human movement practices.

DESCRIPTION

Our installation is designed as an experiential journey, where participants are invited to explore non-verbal ways of communication and the power of kinaesthetic empathy. We prepared interactive installation, where the sound landscape is shaped by participants breathing patters. We use biosensors and programmed sound synthesisers to enhance feedback of physiological changes of breathing in social interaction exploring how far people may use this extended sense to find common rhythm.

The pre-recorded instruction for participants last 15 minutes and it is looped into continues installation. Participants might join the space in any time, however there is only six breathing sensors available to wear simultaneously, so the installation is meant for a small group. The instruction guides participants through a somatic exploration of senses and embodied feeling, then expanding the focus into others, group and shared activities, coming back into senses and body at the end.

By limiting the amount of light in the space we highlight the usually under used senses and create socially safe environment to play with embodied experience and shared movement. As facilitators we moderate the energy of the room as well as help participants to understand the sensors and its relation to the sound.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHIES:

Klara Łucznik is a Marie-Curie research fellow at CogNovo, a multinational doctoral training network based at Plymouth University, offering research training in cognitive innovation. She holds MSc. in Psychology (2009, University of Warsaw) and MA in Choreography and Dance Theory (2015, The F. Chopin University of Music). Her research focuses on dance improvisation as a collaborative practice that provides an opportunity to understand how people collaborate while creating and to observe how new ideas appear from interaction with others’ bodies and the environment. In a PhD project she investigates the role of flow in group dance improvisation. Her creative practice explores improvisation as a strategy for creativity, performance and interactive, participatory events.

Abigail Jackson is an MPhil/PhD candidate as part of the Transtechnology Research Group at Plymouth University, and has received AHRC funding via the The 3D3 Centre for Doctoral Training. Abigail also holds a BA Hons Dance Theatre Degree, and a Masters of Research Dance (both achieved at Plymouth University), and a PGCert in Autism (Children) from Birmingham University. Her current research has developed into a multidisciplinary project where she aims to facilitate improvised, responsive, movement sessions, in the development of a creative intervention, for children holding a diagnosis of autism, with digital mediation embedded in its investigation. The progression of this project is aligning with research into the increased connection with technology, for the autistic child, as new technologies are introduced to the schooling, and home, environment.