In "keyboard mode," the person stays within the rectangle, touching on keys to illicit notes. In "percussive mode," the person can move outside the rectangle to set off a snare drum or cymbal sound.
In a pilot study at REHAB Programs, Inc., in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., children who used the instrument paid more attention to their movements because they were motivated by the sounds they were creating. One 9-year-old child spent an hour creating a song, even though it required a lot of effort.
"The added benefit of all of this is that the children are working on their head control," said Leaf Miller, a professional musician and an occupational therapist at REHAB Programs.
Affordability is also an issue, she added.
"The cost of the hardware and software is not going to be expensive and that makes it accessible," said Miller. "It can also be adapted for speech language pathologists to use for communication."
The team will be working this summer to perfect the prototype and create additional interfaces for an organization that fosters a unique approach to music, literature, art and meditation.
They hope the interface might offer a way for otherwise frusterated patients to express the song they have on the tip of their nose.
