World's First System to Play Piano with Eyes Unveiled

Tokyo, Dec. 18 (Jiji Press)--The world's first system that allows people to play the piano solely with the movement of the eyes was unveiled in Tokyo Thursday. Using the system, Kota Numajiri, a 17-year-old student with spinal muscular atrophy, a severe neuromuscular disease, played "Joy to the World" and "Silent Night" on the piano while accompanied by a student choir. The system, dubbed Eye Play the Piano, uses an eye tracking head mount display. When the piano player, wearing the head mount, blinks at notes that appear on the display, the equivalent notes are played on the piano. The system was developed by Fove Inc., a Tokyo-based startup company. The recital was part of a Christmas event at the Special Needs for Education School for the Physically Challenged at the University of Tsukuba. Numajiri said with a smile that it was difficult to blink and keep the rhythm but that he is pleased that physically challenged people can now play the piano. "I would like to play the guitar and drums as well." U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy was present at the event and warmly applauded. END