Max-MSP for blind people.

    ninosgr
    Jan 24 2011 | 5:46 pm
    Hi everyone,
    I am a Phd student and I am teaching Music Technology in Bangor Wales. This year we have a student, who is blind, and interested in learning Max-MSP. I was wondering if there is any way of doing that. Any ideas are welcome. I am trying to help this student but since I am not a programmer (working only Max a couple of years now), I guess there are people out there who know more or maybe somebody has already created a patch he want's to share.
    It is a very interesting topic for cycling74 as well. One can argue that all the music software are accessible to a certain group of people. Maybe we could make programmes that are more fluid-accessible.
    It is oxymoron that a student with such a great hearing abilities not being able to express him self musically with such a powerful "instrument" such as Max-MSP.
    PS: if anyone is interested about the student's ideas of how music software could become accessible to blind people, I can post his email after I receive it.
    Thank you very much,
    Best, Ninos
    • brendan mccloskey
      Jan 24 2011 | 7:03 pm
      I recall a recent thread relating to MaxMSP and visual impairment; I think it was on the subject of screenreaders, and might be found using the forum search tool. Incidently, my PhD (2nd year) is in accessible musical instrument design (for musicians with cerebral palsy), and features Max quite heavily. Brendan
      ps, as my supervisor continually states: if you use Max, you ARE a programmer!
    • ninosgr
      Jan 24 2011 | 8:48 pm
      Thank you very much for your reply!!
      Do you have any website for me to see your work?
      my PhD is very similar in subject.
      Thanks
    • brendan mccloskey
      Jan 24 2011 | 9:36 pm
      I did start a blog, but failed to maintain it. I'm building an interactive touchscreen for the control of various synth engines in Max (string model, granular, maybe more), using various sensors and an Arduino.
      Here's some very early related work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYA7cRDrUJY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbHQhUN2iQg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srl7khesEkM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri_18Zx5I4c
      What is your field exactly?
      Brendan
    • ninosgr
      Jan 28 2011 | 5:45 pm
      I am a composer. My PhD is about music accessibility and composition. Mainly I am creating interfaces to control sound. For example a multitouch screen so the "performer" would not have to be a musician. I am interested in learning arduino. Your stuff look very interesting. Thanks for sharing !!
      PS: by the way I did not find the link you told me, but I found the "thispatch" object which lets you work with scripts.
      Best, Ninos
    • brendan mccloskey
      Jan 28 2011 | 5:51 pm
      I too am building a DIY touchscreen, but one which is more immersive, engaging and accessible than off the shelf examples
      Best Brendan
    • Peter Nyboer
      Jan 28 2011 | 5:57 pm
      You may want to contact peter elsea of uc santa cruz: elsea at cats.ucsc.edu I know he's done a lot of work in the area of access and computer music.