09 May 2023

ARC Industry Fellowship

SensiLab’s Dr. Alon Ilsar has been awarded an Australian Research Council ECR Industry Fellowship. The 3 year project, “Novel gestural technologies for musicians with physical disability” in partnership with YourDNA Creative Arts, will allow people with a physical disability to create and perform music using interactive gestural systems. The project will investigate how to customise an instrument’s interactions to each individual, creating a unique gestural vocabulary for every performer.

The Airsticks 2.0, technology developed at SensiLab form a central part of the ECR Fellowship
The Airsticks 2.0, technology developed at SensiLab form a central part of the ECR Fellowship

The project aims to address the under-representation of people with disability in the Australian music industry by developing innovative, accessible gestural instruments. Teaming up with key industry partner, YourDNA Creative Arts, an accessibler arts organisation, this interdisciplinary project expects to generate new knowledge in instrument design, inclusive technology and creative artificial intelligence. Using mixed-methodologies, expected outcomes include music and performance which is socially inclusive, economic participation, and the health and well-being of musicians with disability. This should provide significant benefits to Australian society by breaking down barriers that hinder their effective participation in society.