Controlling software using hardware

Coming from pure digital realms where everything can be wrapped into software and virtual worlds, we often need physical interfaces. This can sound like a paradox; we want everything in one place, but that place is so small and user-unfriendly for everything related to pure creation and feelings that we need more or less big external (physical) interfaces. I love this paradox.

But, why do we need such interfaces? Sometimes, the old mouse and QWERTY keyboard don't cut it. Our computers are fast, but these interfaces to control our programs are slow and clunky.

We need interfaces between the real world and the virtual world. Whatever they are, we need them to focus on our final purpose, which is usually not the interface or even the software itself.

Personally, I write books and teach art-related technology courses, but as a live performer, I need to focus on the final rendering. While performing, I want to black-box as much as possible the technology under...