SLRCVIP

Information for Visually Impaired People in South London

Attention Musicians!! – participate in haptic digital communication trials

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Dear Fellow Musician,

Information sheet for participants in the conducting and haptic digital prototype trials and focus groups

I am a researcher at the UCL Institute of Education, London working with colleagues (Professor Lucy Green, also from UCL and Ann Fomukong-Bowden, an electronic engineer) on developing a prototype technology to communicate the conductor’s gestures via Bluetooth technology to blind and partially-sighted (i.e. visually impaired) performers in music ensembles. The prototype will entail the visually impaired musician wearing a vest that vibrates to track these gestures in two dimensions. This will be a gentle, harmless vibration moving across the wearer’s back similar in amplitude to a mobile telephone. There is no risk of harm. We believe this technology has the potential to integrate congenitally blind musicians (including adults, children, beginners and professionals), or those who experience sight loss later in life, into sighted musical contexts more successfully.

During our trial days, which will take place on 20 April, 10 May, 24 May and 30 June 2017 at the UCL Institute, we would also like to interview you in a focus group with other visually impaired musicians to ascertain the challenges there are to performing in an ensemble amongst sighted peers and also to get your feedback on the developing prototype. So there is nothing particularly sensitive about our questions. These interviews will be audio recorded and transcribed; they will last for approximately 30 minutes. On completion of the transcription, the audio, which will be kept on a password protected computer, will be securely erased. You will be given a pseudonym in the transcription and other “identifiers” such as e.g. the name of your workplace, or the name of the orchestras in which you perform, etc. will be removed. We will share the transcription with you so that you can check its faithfulness to your meaning and also flag any sensitive issues that you would rather not have reported. We may wish to cite some of your words in our reporting but only after making them confidential. There is always a slight risk that someone might recognise you from something we write however, due to visually impaired musicians being a small group within society, but we will strive to mask your identity and never purposefully disclose it.

Participation in this project is entirely voluntary. As someone who is visually impaired and a musician who performs in ensembles, we would be delighted if you could help us trial this new technology. By attending our trial days at the UCL Institute of Education, you give your consent to participate in the research, but can opt out at any point simply by sending an e-mail to me.

If you have any further questions, I would be delighted to answer them.

I do hope that you can support us with this important work and look forward to meeting you. If you are interested in participating in one or more of these trial days, please send me an e-mail to david.baker@ucl.ac.uk

Yours sincerely,

David Baker

A Clockwork Orange – Audio described – 8th March

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Show Information
A Clockwork Orange
Audio-described
Date: Wednesday 8 March 2017
Time: 7:30 pm
Ticket price: £20.00 – £26.50 (Essential companion goes free)
Touch Tour: 6pm
Audio described by VocalEyes

Action To The Word’s award-winning and breathtaking all-male version of A Clockwork Orange hits Park Theatre.
This electrifying and testosterone-filled physical theatre horror show exquisitely captures and transcends the spirit of Anthony Burgess’ original literary masterpiece.
A Clockwork Orange lures its audience into the glorious glass-edged nastiness of Manchester’s underworld. A playtime of orgiastic ultraviolence and sexuality, it’s the story of little Alex and his Droogs in their battle against the tedium of adolescence. An unapologetic celebration of the human condition, it remains as terrifyingly relevant today as when the book was published in 1962 and when Stanley Kubrick’s film caused a stir in 1971.
“Imaginative and striking… It sizzles with energy.” ★★★★ Evening Standard
“This is a show that everyone should experience.” WhatsOnStage
To enquire about access at Park Theatre or to register your interest in our access scheme please contact Lorna Heap on intern@parktheatre.co.uk
If using the telephone is easier for you, please leave a message for Lorna by calling us on 020 3697 4190
To make bookings please call our Box Office on 020 7870 6876