The instrument is intended for use only by accomplished players and was designed to amplify their gestures, which lead to supplementary sound or musical control possibilities.
[1] The creation of musical instruments that utilize technology to increase the functionality and subtlety of control has been an endeavour of Tod Machover and his research group since 1986.
This collaboration has produced a series of "augmented instruments" called Hyperinstruments such as the HyperCello, an acoustic cello created in 1991 for Yo-Yo Ma.
[3] The Hyperbow project sought to capture the most intricate aspects of violin bowing technique, the subtle elements that immediately and directly impact the sound of the instrument while playing.
Current research uses the Hyperbow as a measurement system to investigate the interaction of bowing parameters (acceleration, force, position) and the corresponding effects on the audio produced.