FAME Framework

Version: 1.0 (Draft) Author: A Dickens Last Edited: Feb 9, 2022

Introduction

The Facilitating Access to Musical Experiences (FAME) framework addresses the accessibility requirements of digital musical instruments (DMIs) in the context of inclusive music practice and facilitated performance. The documents within it aim to help DMI creators better understand the needs of disabled performers and facilitators. Including ways in which to incorporate accessibility into product design and evaluate existing products against accessibility guidelines. Additionally, the framework outlines the general best practices for accessibility in inclusive music making.

Included in the framework are the following documents:

The approach taken by this framework is not to provide a way to ‘score’ the accessibility of a DMI. After all, there is no one size fits all approach to accessibility. Therefore, an accessibility ‘score’ cannot respect the unique experiences of disabled people. Instead, the goal of this framework is to provide a way to help DMI creators understand the current accessibility barriers that a DMI presents and reflect upon these.

It is also important to acknowledge that accessibility is not a one time fix. This framework should be used repeatedly throughout the production lifecycle of DMIs.

Who is this framework for?

The following groups of people may find this framework useful:

Important Terminology

Core Qualities

To understand a DMIs level of accessibility, this framework examines five core qualities of digital musical instruments:

Durability

Durability questions how robust the instrument is.

A DMI must be able to work reliably within many different contexts, from practice to performance.

This quality measures the strength of the physical or virtual elements of a DMI.

Flexibility

Flexibility examines how adaptable an instrument is.

The more flexible a DMI is, the more it can be adjusted to a musician’s style or needs.

This quality measures the level of flexibility afforded by the physical or virtual elements of a DMI.

Practicality

Practicality observes how quickly an instrument can be set up.

This is an important quality for a DMI to succeed in inclusive music settings and live performance.

This quality measures the speed of setup for the physical or virtual elements of a DMI.

Complexity

Complexity explores how complex the user interface of an instrument is.

This quality measures the level of complexity introduced by the physical or virtual elements of a DMI.

Compatibility

Compatibility looks at how well an instrument integrates with a musician’s existing setup. This includes whether the DMI supports any form of assistive technology.

This quality measures the level of compatibility offered by the physical or virtual elements of a DMI.

Guidelines

These guidelines offer ways to improve accessibility of an instrument based on each of the five qualities.

  1. Durability: A DMI should be able to withstand the physical demands of practising and performing.
    1. Provide alternatives to physical connections.
    2. Safeguard against accidental damage.
    3. Provide stable operation for long periods of time.
  2. Flexibility: A DMI should accommodate many musical and playing styles.
    1. Offer more than one way of interacting with the DMI.
    2. Allow the musician to alter the interaction settings.
    3. Provide the ability to adapt the musician’s interface.
  3. Practicality: A DMI should be easy to introduce to a musician’s setup.
    1. Aim for ‘plug in and play’
    2. Provide any specialist adaptors that may be required
    3. Enable the ability to recall settings or musician profiles
  4. Complexity: A DMI should be simple enough for all levels of musicians to understand.
    1. Provide options to minimise the detail of an interface
    2. Ensure the interface can be understood in many contexts
    3. Provide clear feedback in response to actions
  5. Compatibility: A DMI should be compatible with a musician’s setup, including hardware, software, and assistive technologies.
    1. Expose the interface to assistive technologies
    2. Offer multiple ways to mount the instrument
    3. Allow open communication with the instrument

Reviewing DMIs using the FAME framework

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