Live Audience Accessibility & Augmentation – Exploring Inclusive Haptic Futures for Music Festivals

Bossey, Adrian ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9874-6323 (2024) Live Audience Accessibility & Augmentation – Exploring Inclusive Haptic Futures for Music Festivals. In: ATLAS Conference, 26-28 June 2024, Breda.

	Text (ATLAS Book of Abstracts) ATLAS-2024-Breda-BOOK-OF-ABSTRACTS.pdf - Supplemental Material Restricted to Repository staff only Download (2MB) | Request a copy
	Text (ATLAS Programme) ATLAS 2024 Breda - program June 18.pdf - Supplemental Material Restricted to Repository staff only Download (468kB) | Request a copy
Preview	Text (Conference paper) ATLAS AB FINAL 2024.pdf - Presentation Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial. Download (3MB) | Preview

Abstract / Summary

Music festivals need to increase accessibility for people who are Deaf, disabled or neurodivergent. In the future, the use of ICT augmentation at music festivals which is designed to enhance accessibility for people who are Deaf, disabled or neurodivergent is likely to grow. This may incorporate haptic technologies, pertaining to the sense of touch, which are either innovative new developments or disruptions of existing ICT for new uses around leisure or tourism. However, the use of haptic technologies to increase inclusion at music festivals is currently under researched and the uptake of ICT enhancements in this regard may be influenced by audience perceptions of ‘liveness’.

This presentation considers the Live Audience Accessibility & Augmentation (‘LAAA’) project which addressed issues of inclusivity at music festivals through new haptic ICT with scope for real world impact. LAAA built on previous research to install an innovative new haptic dance floor at Falmouth University over a period of 4 days in May 2023. The research, knowledge exchange and community engagement project was led by Adrian Bossey and delivered by Cornwall Business School in association with the Academy of Music and Performing Arts (‘AMATA’). LAAA aimed to evaluate audience experiences of engaging with authentic ‘live’ music performances, including those augmented with haptic technology which stimulates the sense of touch. Attendees at LAAA events were invited to experience Beat Blocks a new Bass flooring system which transforms sound into felt vibration. Six LAAA events were devised to support the gathering of research data via on-line questionnaires, which is currently being analysed. LAAA activities included:

- Live public performances from Deaf Rave AND four groups of student performers in a bespoke music studio at AMATA
- In-conversation events with Suzanne Bull, founder of Attitude is Everything and Lucy Evans, Producer for In Place of War.
- Deaf Rave DJ Workshops for schools groups, offering attendees the opportunity to experience Woojer Haptic Vests whilst developing DJ-ing skills and provided access to AMATA Music student ensemble performances, experienced using the haptic flooring.
- A haptic sound installation by researchers working at the intersection of soundscape ecology, aural diversity, voice studies, and sound-based composition.
- Accessing Culture & Tourism Workshops, which explored increasing access to live music and culture/visitor attractions for performers and audiences who are Deaf or disabled.
- LAAA also subsidised places on the Attitude is Everything course to attendees from visitor attractions and/or music venues. This course is designed to improve industry practices around accessibility for people who are Deaf or disabled at live events.

LAAA delivered a range of knowledge exchange outputs including; 255 attendees, 17 businesses supported, 2 schools supported, 5 performers showcased and 124 students engaged. The success of the project inspired two follow-on projects measuring audience perceptions of experiencing the BEAT BLOCKS multi-sensory interactive flooring system, or disrupting gaming technologies by wearing Woojer Haptic Vests on-site at selected Music Festivals including Boomtown Fair in August 2023 and the Deaf Rave Festival in October 2023.

View Record (staff only)