LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – A Texas Tech School of Music assistant professor has spent 12 years developing an instrument that uses motion sensors instead of traditional keys or strings.
Hideki Isoda, an assistant professor of composition, created the device using an accelerometer and gyroscope to track motion.
“This instrument utilizes accelerometer, which is a motion sensor, gyroscope and accelerometer,” Isoda said. “And so depending on how you move and the basically computer analyzes what’s the motion and then I created my own algorithms to associate with the musical expressions.”
Inspired by music therapy work
Isoda’s wife, Hyejin, a music therapist, inspired the device. Some of her clients wanted to make music but medical conditions or physical disabilities prevented them from playing piano or guitar.
“The original idea was accessibility,” Isoda said. “So we wanted to give more opportunities for people who wish to be part of the music but didn’t have the right instrument. But because of this, they may have new opportunities, new possibilities. So that’s a great feeling.”
No artificial intelligence involved
Isoda said similar products exist, but his instrument differs because it reads motion and does not use artificial intelligence.
“Because I started 12 years ago and there was no such thing called the large language model at that time,” Isoda said. “And I use supervised machine learning. So every program I create is basically supervised myself. So it does not go to internet. So everything stays within the micro controller.”
Isoda hopes clinical trials and further testing come next to confirm the device is safe.
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