Repmoves: Stories that a rhythmic interaction device for seniors can tell

There is currently an ongoing debate within HCI community regarding the legitimacy of design objects as producers and carriers of knowledge. This paper takes a Research through Design methodological approach to making such an object, RepMoves, with a purpose to explore its use and usefulness and demonstrate how new knowledge can arise while exploring and experimenting with design objects. In this paper, RepMoves is used to address rhythmic and repetitive bodily interaction with music as a welfare technology concept for senior citizens with cognitive difficulties related to the onset of Alzheimer's disease, and in one example, an individual with Parkinson. We show how RepMoves interface was adapted for use in each of these cases, how movements and interfaces were changed, and most importantly, RepMoves' potential to generate knowledge and research opportunities.