Kai Lassfolk

Design principles and user interfaces of Erkki Kurenniemi's electronic musical instruments of the 1960's and 1970's

This paper presents a line of historic electronic musical instruments designed by Erkki Kurenniemi in the 1960s and 1970s. Kurenniemis instruments were influenced by digital logic and an experimental attitude towards user interface design. The paper presents an overview of Kurenniemis instruments and a detailed description of selected devices. Emphasis is put on user interface issues such as unconventional interactive real-time control and programming methods.