Ben Heck fashions breath-controlled kick pedal for Guitar Hero
By Laura June 
posted March 3rd 2009 11:53PM
posted March 3rd 2009 11:53PM
[Via Hack a Day]
posted March 3rd 2009 11:53PM
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Well that's um... uh.. well.. um.. innovative. Play with drums and blowing. Yup.
How about Ben Heck fashions a guitar that teaches you to actually play the guitar?
Rather than trying to cause these astmatic, obese kids to hyperventilate themselves into ICU.
Wow. Way to slight every person in a wheelchair that would benefit from this.
The kid from school with free lunches has apparently formed Flashpoint's entire perception of wheelchair users.
I'm thinkin good for Def Leppard's drummer (look it up if you weren't around in the 80s ;)
Rick Allen lost his arm, not his leg.
uh....ok.
assuming that you find the marriage of exhaling and music natural, and assuming that you're actually able to replicate what he's created, and assuming you're willing to admit to anyone that you did this, won't it get you lightheaded?
"marriage of exhaling and music natural"
There are lots of instruments you play by exhaling. What is unnatural about it?
Nearly all of them aren't percussion/impulse based instruments though.
Look at it this way: save money by not having to buy glue to sniff.
That's nice and all, but are we assuming the wheelchair-bound person has full use of his arms, thus being able to play the non-kick drums?
If so, something like a squeeze trigger hooked to a drumstick would be much, much easier to use and much less intrusive.
Can you imagine what it'd be like to play "One" with that gadget? "Darkness imprisoning me
All that I see.. Absolute hor.." *drummer explodes*
beats dying in a bizarre gardening accident
+1 for you, CraigJ
totally agree. try taking some deep breaths pretty fast... you'll get lightheaded and/or possibly pass out.
I just wanna see a shooped Loius Armstrong puffin on that thing.
did you mean Dizzy Gillespie?
It's only a matter of time before my dream of playing Didgeridoo Hero becomes a reality.
YES!
What was so wrong with this one?
http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/31/rock-band-drum-kit-accessibility-mod-helps-everybody-rock-harder/
Certainly think this is a better solution than a breath controller, but who knows? Might be people with arthritis or something out there who are unable to squeeze the drumstick properly
I went straight for the button on the drum stick idea too.
Maybe there is a good reason for having it breath controlled, but I can't see it.
If you want/need (I'm not a drummer, virtual or otherwise) to use a separate part of your body for control then surely a bite controlled kick pedal would be more accurate and easier to use.
You know what? It's creative. It's original. I don't think many of you would have thought of it.
It's not great, but if you don't have use of your legs, it's definitely something.
Amen, Ben actually makes mods that help people while he isn't cramming the innards of an NES into a wristwatch casing. I think it's cool he's giving some time and thought to help people that are so often forgotten by the tech world.
Its very honorable of Ben to mod for someone other than himself. When was the last time any of you EE's made something for the handicapped? When was the last time any of you programmers ported a game for the blind?
it'll be a cool peripheral for a beatboxing game
Very commendable, but I think most would pass out from trying to replicate bass drum patterns with their lungs.
I think it's pretty obvious that Ben Heck really has it out for people in wheelchairs.
So what blows more: this game or people using this device?
Handicapped people using this device do not blow, they exhale into the tube.
The game does not blow as it is great at parties.
The device certainly does not blow, nor does it suck as it uses the differential in pressure to simulate the kick.
You blow.
Fredrik from Meshuggah actually has a breath controller box which he sometimes employs for guitar solos to get the desired kind of attack for the notes. A bit unnecessary for most people i'd imagine.
But in this context, I think this is a great idea, why not let people who otherwise can't hit the kick pedal give the game a go. Yes it will leave you out of breath if you want to play something that wants to rock blast beats for the whole song or something, but surely being able to play some songs is better than being able to play none.
wow, someone's got way to much time on their hands.
"wow, someone's got way to much time on their hands."
Yeah, helping out disabled children have a good time is such a waste of time..
If Peter Frampton was a drummer?
They going to add in a breathaliser so it takes into account how drunk you are before it gives you your score
Waiting for someone to black out into unconsciousness while trying to play a song by Rush.
HAHAHA. I lol'd.
How about making a Peter Frampton talking guitar adapter.
I would do some Daft Punk songs with that.
At least theres a modder or two doing something good for gamers of every type.....
i have the same drum set and remote and carpet in my room, this is so cool
I was paralyzed for a few months this summer, and I can say that this is a pretty great idea. Wake up without legs one day and then make sarcastic pseudo-witty comments about adaptive equipment.