Musical Robots : Overview and Methods for Evaluation

• Musical robots are complex systems that require the integration of several different functions to successfully operate. These processes range from sound analysis and music representation to mapping and modeling of musical expression. Recent advancements in Computational Creativity (CC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have added yet another level of complexity to these settings, with aspects of Human–AI Interaction (HAI) becoming increasingly important. The rise of intelligent music systems raises questions not only about the evaluation of Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) in robot musicianship but also about the quality of the generated musical output. The topic of evaluation has been extensively discussed and debated in the fields of Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) and New Interfaces for Musical Expression (NIME) throughout the years. However, interactions with robots often have a strong social or emotional component, and the experience of interacting with a robot is therefore somewhat different from that of interacting with other technologies. Since musical robots produce creative output, topics such as creative agency and what is meant by the term "success" when interacting with an intelligent music system should also be considered. The evaluation of musical robots thus expands beyond traditional evaluation concepts such as usability and user experience. To explore which evaluation methodologies might be appropriate for musical robots, this chapter first presents a brief introduction to the field of research dedicated to robotic musicianship, followed by an overview of evaluation methods used in the neighboring research fields of HCI, HRI, HAI, NIME, and CC. The chapter concludes with a review of evaluation methods used in robot musicianship literature and a discussion of prospects for future research.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Data- och informationsvetenskap -- Medieteknik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Computer and Information Sciences -- Media and Communication Technology (hsv//eng)

HUMANIORA  -- Konst -- Musik (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Arts -- Music (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Elektroteknik och elektronik -- Robotteknik och automation (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering -- Robotics (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Data- och informationsvetenskap -- Människa-datorinteraktion (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Computer and Information Sciences -- Human Computer Interaction (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Annan teknik -- Interaktionsteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Other Engineering and Technologies -- Interaction Technologies (hsv//eng)

Keyword

music

sound

robots

new interfaces for musical expression

multimodal interaction

evaluation

Human-Robot Interaction

Human-Computer Interaction

accessible digital musical instruments

Human-AI Interaction

Media Technology

Medieteknik

Art, Technology and Design

Konst, teknik och design

Människa-datorinteraktion

Human-computer Interaction

Speech and Music Communication

Tal- och musikkommunikation

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kap (subject category)