Update: entries are closed. Stay tuned for the official contestants, and lots more details as the challenge unfolds!

In science fiction and science fact, music has been central to finding a common language to speak to the universe. Music from Bach to gamelan — a mix curated by “DJ” Carl Sagan and his committee — has traveled into space on the Voyager spacecraft. In the digital age, musical interfaces are also often the best way to understand how to interface with technology and information.

Musicians have led many of the most innovative digital technological breakthroughs — the first digital synthesizer (at Bell Labs in the 50s), breakthroughs in modular electronic systems (modular synthesizers of the 60s), pioneering advances in digital storage and processing, unusual wireless interfaces and gestural controls decades ahead of the Nintendo Wii, and touch- and multi-touch tools years before the iPhone and Microsoft Surface.

But that’s all in the past. This is a design challenge for the future. We want to hear the best, most forward-thinking, generally coolest, Second Space Age-worthy instruments and digital music interfaces. If aliens land — as they did when met by a classic ARP synthesizer in Close Encounters — we want to be able to give them a great show.

Need extra incentive? The grand prize winner will take home a Yamaha Tenori-On.

Image: Voyager’s “golden record.” Source: NASA.

How to enter

We’re looking for designs of “instruments” — whether self-contained, electrically-powered devices or hardware interfaces for computers. That can include tangible interfaces, physical computing, hacked hardware, custom-built synths and electronics, and other gadgets. These must use at least some custom software and/or hardware.

You are limited to one computer and one input device — but the “input device” can be as complex as an interactive table. If that sounds vague, just remember — ultimately, the judges and audience decide. Wow them, and all will be well.

Artists must sign up in advance. We will have a limited number of slots. The best proposals will be chosen by the staff of createdigitalmusic.com to compete in San Francisco at Yuri’s Night.

Set up, plug in. You’ll have a limited set up time.

Play. You have three minutes to perform.

Entry form:

Enter via Google Documents, or contact us directly if you can’t access the entry form. (Please send us a quick email note once you’ve sent the Google Docs entry, and keep a copy of everything you enter into that form; we’ve had a couple of people have trouble with the form and don’t want to lose your entry!)

Entry deadline: 11:59 PM Monday, April 7, East Coast time. (No exceptions!)

THAT’S IT! It’s done! We’ll notify official contestants with details Tuesday morning.

(Performance/Competition Date: April 12, 2008; Time TBA)

Judging

A panel of judges with expertise in music and interaction design will judge the entries — and are encouraged to be biased by crowd response. (If you’ve got friends, tell them to cheer really loudly.)

Judging will be in three categories:

• Design and aesthetics: Does it look good? Is it an elegant design solution to the task? How much work went into the project?
• Innovation and originality: Does it break new ground? Is it an original concept? How much original work was done?
• Music and sound: If it sounds good, it is good.

Awards

Winners will be announced at Yuri’s Night, with a grand prize winner and honorable mention awards for each category.

The grand prize winner will take home a Tenori-On provided by createdigitalmusic.com, designed by Toshio Iwai and Yamaha. Runners up will be awarded prizes TBA.

Good luck!

Tenori-On photo: Gary Kibler for CDM.