New technology provides greater control to paraplegic pianists

Technology allowing paraplegics to operate the right pedal of a piano has been developed by a team of scientists in Heidelberg Germany, trumping earlier systems which didn't allow for half pedal or flutter variations. The device consists of a tiny remote module that's placed inside the pianist's right cheek, and a wireless transmitter and motor attached to the pedals of the piano. A small battery in the left cheek of the user provides up to twelve hours of power. The player grits their teeth when they want to control the pedal -- the module is sensitive to different amounts of pressure, which allow the pianist greater control over footing than previous tools. From the sounds of it, this thing would work just as well on a wah pedal, right?

[rock99rock @ Oct 29th 2008 5:26PM]

or the bass drum for Rock Band? / GHWT / (insert favorite accessorized video game with foot pedal here)

[John @ Oct 29th 2008 7:04PM]

time crisis II.

[cc om @ Oct 29th 2008 10:14PM]

well this is just fantastic. the vast paraplegic pianists association will be simply overjoyed.

[ric @ Oct 29th 2008 5:31PM]

sounds like a modern equivalent of the talkbox:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk_box

Frampton Comes Alive!

[lowdef @ Oct 29th 2008 5:34PM]

do you feeell likeeee we doooo-oooo??

[StalematE @ Oct 29th 2008 5:36PM]

like zaffo from sifl and olly

[sinerasis @ Oct 29th 2008 6:34PM]

umm... no... this just controls a pedal more precisely with a persons mouth, allowing in between states instead of just on or off. Let's say on is 1 and off is 0, this would allow for 0.5 or any other number between 0 and 1 (although I'm sure there's a limit to the usable stepping).

A talkbox actually pushes sound through your mouth, allowing you to model the sound with the changes you can make with your mouth. Like if you make a room echo, a talkbox would change the shape of the room on the fly, giving you different echos. I supposed you could alter an electric piano to play through a talkbox, which could be interesting in it's own right...

Sweet though... I'm not disabled, but I have been put out of commission for long periods of time due to injury, and music really helps a lot in situations like that. I can only imagine being permanently told you can't do something like play the piano again.

[John @ Oct 29th 2008 6:34PM]

"modern day equivalent of the talkbox."

i wouldn't say that, since a talkbox modifies the sound coming out of the tube using the shape of your mouth. this technology sounds like you're just biting on a pressure sensitive pad. the only similarity would be that they're both in your mouth. also, i don't get why you say "modern day equivalent," since the talkbox is still widely used and modified today.

[Zelatio @ Oct 29th 2008 5:32PM]

"...just as well on a wah pedal, right?"

Awesome, yet cruel joke. I salute you, Laura.

[allislost @ Oct 29th 2008 5:55PM]

This is one of the great things technology can do for us, it's too bad technology can also make things like Sony's Rolly...

[computer.dude.28 @ Oct 29th 2008 6:06PM]

The Rolly is a representation of Sony's sense of humour.

[iEye @ Oct 29th 2008 6:22PM]

That picture reminds me of a song...
_________________________
I'm a new soul.
I came to this strange world
hoping I could learn a bit ‘bout
how to give and take.

But since I came here
felt the joy and the fear
finding myself making
every possible mistake.

la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la...

[Boarderwoot @ Oct 29th 2008 6:23PM]

So, the remotes in the right cheek, and the batteries are in the left? wouldnt that result in the chomping of the wires when the user is trying to activate the pedal?

[sinerasis @ Oct 29th 2008 6:40PM]

Biting the wires sends the electric signal from the left side of your cheek all throughout your body and eventually back to the right cheek, giving that persons music inevitably more soul than any other musician up until now. Emo kids, while they will more than likely use bigger batteries to make them cry while composing, will take this phenomenon to the extreme to stay more musically informed than the rest of us.

[MikeWard1701 @ Oct 29th 2008 7:26PM]

LOL good idea, but totally kills the pianists mood.

Imagine watching a pianist play a piece with sustain throughout, something delicate and moving like the first ovement of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No.14 in C#m Op.27 No.2 ("Moonlight" Sonata to most people). Not only would they be sat with gritted teeth, displaying the worst facial expression ever, but by the time they're finished, they'll have some serious toothache!

[Dan Davis @ Oct 29th 2008 7:41PM]

That's all well and good, but what about the undersized musicians? Doesn't anyone have something for the 12-inch pianists out there?

[MikeWard1701 @ Oct 29th 2008 7:49PM]

Yes, its a job working as an Erotic Motion Picture Soundtrack Composer.

No piano playing involved! You just need to write sleazy saxophone and bass guitar riffs.

[madchinamando @ Oct 30th 2008 12:01AM]

As a pianist and a piano teacher, gritting one's teeth is NOT A GOOD IDEA when playing. Any tension in the jaw translates to tension in the shoulders, neck, which translates to the arm, wrist and fingers.

Long term usage could possibly lead to tendonidis or carpel tunnel.

Just sayin. I'm all about paraplegics being able to express music on the same level as us non-paraplegics, but I don't want them to injure themselves further.

[Steve @ Dec 21st 2008 12:21AM]

Where do i get this,and will it work for the bass pedal for the drums, and hi hat how would you do both?? Have ideas but need more help!!