Semi-Structured Interviews
Mapping User Needs for Vibrotactile Monitoring

The VibroFON research team has officially launched qualitative user-needs research through semi-structured interviews conducted in collaboration with the Athens Special High School for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing. The primary objective of this phase is to establish the core features and operational blueprint of the proposed portable monitoring system by listening directly to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals and artists. These discussions explore everyday musical interaction, performance challenges, and user preferences regarding vibrotactile feedback, bone conduction pathways, and body placement points to ensure our technological development is deeply grounded in the lived experiences of its target community. 

Beyond technical considerations, these interviews focus on defining the precise types of auditory and performance cues most critical during live shows—ranging from fundamental rhythmic and melodic contours to augmented feedback like spatial positioning, conductor's cues, and stage communication. Gathering this qualitative feedback forms the foundation for the VibroFON prototype design, steering subsequent digital signal processing development and tactile transducer integration. By centering deaf and hard-of-hearing performers from the project's inception, VibroFON ensures that its assistive vibrotactile system actively promotes artistic agency, seamless collaboration, and inclusive cultural participation.