Student co-develops head bangin' music maker

Nah, it's not quite a throwback to the 80s, but Zane Van Dusen has co-developed "a computer interface that tracks the movement of a user's head to allow them to produce electronic sounds and compose music on a virtual keyboard in both solo and ensemble settings." The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute senior worked with a team of musicians and programming gurus to create a device that would enable those with extremely limited mobility to still express their creativity through music, and aside the from therapeutic benefits, it also holds promise for expanding into a venue for verbal communication. Essentially, the user can line him or herself up with a camera, and as the head bobs, the software determines the new X and Y coordinates and "uses the information to play a note or trigger a sound." While it might not be quite as totally radical as the Guitar Zeros, it sure sounds more exciting than the Bacterial Orchestra.

[Thanks, Amber]

[Clinton @ May 20th 2007 11:16PM]

"...a device that would enable those with extremely limited mobility to still express their creativity through music..."

[Mr. Picklesworth @ May 21st 2007 1:55AM]

This reminds me of... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3UlnmK3Ctk

[[e-mail] @ Jun 7th 2007 4:37AM]

i havn't

[Legodude522 @ May 21st 2007 12:40AM]

It's a spammer, don't waste your breath.

[Vizion @ May 21st 2007 1:27AM]

The PS3 Eye could really take advantage of something like this. Imagine a Guitar Hero-esque game where you move your head around to complete the beats.

I'd call it "Head Bopper" or something lame.

[Sam @ May 21st 2007 2:22AM]

how about

http://spammersshouldgetafreakinglifeandstoppostingfreakinglinksonengadget.hate.nubs

yeah uh that guy looks like sylar from heroes.

[gl0tch @ May 21st 2007 3:34AM]

Max/MSP for the win!

[Brian @ May 21st 2007 6:59AM]

TROY, WHAT!

[Chris @ May 21st 2007 7:15AM]

Wait a tic... you move your head to the left to hit the keys on the right? I hope the software is making a mirror image of the video output.

[Zane @ May 21st 2007 10:09AM]

Awesome! My story got posted. Anyways...yes the video is mirrored, when it wasn't it was rather confusing for people especially those with Cerebral Palsy.

[zer0her0 @ May 21st 2007 2:19PM]

Woot my Alma Mater! Plus EMAC FTW! Good stuff Zane.

[Zane @ May 21st 2007 8:01PM]

For those who are curious, here's a video demo of how it works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9SessVJ04I