Nose Can Play Music on New Instrument
From: Discovery News - 05/29/2007
By: Tracy Staedter

A recent graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York State is
behind an adaptive-use musical instrument that is designed to serve as a
musical therapy tool for people with physical disabilities, such as cerebral
palsy. Zane Van Dusen, a graduate of computer science and electronic media
arts and communications, teamed up with Pauline Oliveros, a musician and arts
professor at Rensselaer, to develop the interface, which relies on an
affordable webcam and specialized computer software. The user, sitting in
front of a computer, sees live video of their face through a webcam, and uses
motion-tracking software to choose a point to track, such as the tip of their
nose. Movements are tracked across an onscreen keyboard, with low notes to
the left and high notes to the right, and sounds are also determined by the
rectangle that appears on the screen around the face of the user. The
percussive mode allows the user to produce a snare drum or cymbal sound by
moving outside the rectangle. The tool helps children focus more on their
movements, according to a pilot study at Rehabs Programs in Poughkeepsie.
"The added benefit of all this is that the children are working on their head
control," says Leaf Miller, a professional musician and an occupational
therapist at Rehab Programs. "It can also be adapted for speech language
pathologists to use for communication."  

Read the entire article at:
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2007/05/29/nosemusic_tec.html

Links:
Student Unlocks Power of Music for People with Disabilities
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070513074258.htm
http://news.rpi.edu/update.do?artcenterkey=2142&setappvar=page(1)
http://www.medlaunches.com/gadgets/power_of_music_for_disabled_pe.php

Student co-develops head bangin' music maker
http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/20/student-co-develops-head-bangin-music-maker/

Leaf Miller - Musical Instruments for the Physically Challenged
http://www.deeplistening.org/site/adaptiveuse
