Looking Outwards-11 Computer Music-Veronica

(Video of performance using MI.MU gloves)

MI.MU gloves are designed by musician and artist, Imogen Heap, as alternatives to instruments during musical performances. Imogen set out to create a better relationship with the music software and hardware that forms her musical toolbox and came across the idea of making music using a pair of musical gloves.

Behind the product is a team of specialist musicians, artists, scientists, and technologists developing cutting-edge wearable technology for the performance and composition of music and specializing in textiles, electronics, sensors, software and, music.

Mi. Mu works by capturing movement and hand gestures with sensors and send information wirelessly from the board on the wrists to a computer backstage. The software enables performers to map that data to” musical control signals” and combine different gestures and movements to make more complex controls. Additionally, the gloves can also be programmed to control third-party music production and editing software.

On her product website, it says that “The glove technology evolved in a symbiotic relationship with Imogen’s performances and writing. Real performances drove the development of the gloves, leading to an instrument and controller fit for professional musicians, ready to make complex, beautiful and engaging music.”

(Imogen Heap and a long exposure shot of her using the gloves)

I think the project is really successful at changing music composing into an intuitive and fun process and allowing for a different way of performing music. It also allows performers and artists to experiment with different types of music instruments without having to purchase physical instruments. Dancers and people with disabilities were also able to use these gloves to express themselves through music.