Designing Strategic Incongruity: An Audio Device for Sharpening Pencils

Shinnosuke Hirose, Yuta Uozumi, Ryoho Kobayashi, and Shinya Fuji

Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression

Abstract

This study presents an interface design methodology that introduces strategic incongruity by embedding everyday objects into existing audio equipment, bridging mundane actions and musical expression. Specifically, we modified amplifiers and mixers by replacing jack socket with manual pencil sharpeners, treating the sound of sharpening as the primary input signal. By preserving the original appearance and operational conventions of audio gear, this design recontextualizes a domestic chore as a standard audio input, inviting users to engage in an entirely new way.Unlike prior practices that map actions to sound or repurpose objects as sources, the novelty here lies in retaining the object’s function while situating it within an established musical interface. Rather than proposing new technologies, this work treats the functional discrepancy between equipment appearance and operational reality as a design resource. Through prototype exhibitions, we observed that the incongruity between musical expectations and non-musical actions elicits active engagement. This interaction was achieved with minimal instruction, demonstrating that the interface facilitates participation without complex guidance. This study reframes strategic incongruity as a design element for fostering active participation.

Citation

Shinnosuke Hirose, Yuta Uozumi, Ryoho Kobayashi, and Shinya Fuji. 2026. Designing Strategic Incongruity: An Audio Device for Sharpening Pencils. Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.20784165 [PDF]

BibTeX Entry


@inproceedings{nime2026_51,
abstract = {This study presents an interface design methodology that introduces strategic incongruity by embedding everyday objects into existing audio equipment, bridging mundane actions and musical expression. Specifically, we modified amplifiers and mixers by replacing jack socket with manual pencil sharpeners, treating the sound of sharpening as the primary input signal. By preserving the original appearance and operational conventions of audio gear, this design recontextualizes a domestic chore as a standard audio input, inviting users to engage in an entirely new way.Unlike prior practices that map actions to sound or repurpose objects as sources, the novelty here lies in retaining the object’s function while situating it within an established musical interface. Rather than proposing new technologies, this work treats the functional discrepancy between equipment appearance and operational reality as a design resource. Through prototype exhibitions, we observed that the incongruity between musical expectations and non-musical actions elicits active engagement. This interaction was achieved with minimal instruction, demonstrating that the interface facilitates participation without complex guidance. This study reframes strategic incongruity as a design element for fostering active participation.},
address = {London, United Kingdom},
articleno = {51},
author = {Shinnosuke Hirose and Yuta Uozumi and Ryoho Kobayashi and Shinya Fuji},
booktitle = {Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression},
doi = {10.5281/zenodo.20784165},
editor = {Benedict Gaster and João Tragtenberg and Anna Xambó and Tom Mitchell},
issn = {2220-4806},
month = {June},
numpages = {8},
pages = {434--441},
title = {Designing Strategic Incongruity: An Audio Device for Sharpening Pencils},
track = {Paper},
url = {http://nime.org/proceedings/2026/nime2026_51.pdf},
year = {2026}
}