BitBox!: A case study interface for teaching real-time adaptive music composition for video games

Real-time adaptive music is now well-established as a popular medium, largely through its use in video game soundtracks. Commercial packages, such as fmod, make freely available the underlying technical methods for use in educational contexts, making adaptive music technologies accessible to students. Writing adaptive music, however, presents a significant learning challenge, not least because it requires a different mode of thought, and tutor and learner may have few mutual points of connection in discovering and understanding the musical drivers, relationships and structures in these works. This article discusses the creation of ‘BitBox!’, a gestural music interface designed to deconstruct and explain the component elements of adaptive composition through interactive play. The interface was displayed at the Dare Protoplay games exposition in Dundee in August 2014. The initial proof-of- concept study proved successful, suggesting possible refinements in design and a broader range of applications.

Growing up in a mainstream world: a retrospective enquiry into the childhood experiences of young adults with a physical disability.

Children with disabilities are at greater risk of developing mental health problems than their peers, yet the emotional well-being of this group is largely overlooked and there is scant literature about children with a mobility disability. This study examined the retrospective experiences of growing up with mobility disability. The sample comprised of 16-25 year olds with mobility disability. A thematic analysis, informed by grounded theory was used. Themes identified included a common socio educational journey, conflict between care and independence in school and the impact of being singled out because of disability out side school. The result was a range of psycho-social issues that affected participants view of themselves and the world around them. The study also looked at what the participants found helpful in dealing with the emotional impact of their disability. Whilst some sought help through talking therapies, others found involvement in disability sport was helpful.