Spot for Scott | Infrared Technology: Killer of Musical Instruments?

In the last few years video game companies have created products that have allowed you to interface with plastic versions of real instruments. Releases like Donkey Konga came with Bongos and the popular Guitar Hero came with a Les Paul guitar. Last year, Rock Band went a step farther giving users the ability to play drums, guitar, bass guitar, and sing all at the same time. There were some limiting factors…chords, buttons, and imagination. Welcome Air Guitar Hero and Air Piano! Though the Air Guitar Hero product is aimed at owners of ripped jeans and Bon Jovi wigs, the Air Piano provides many futuristic applications beyond its musical roots.

These new products use infrared technology, which can be used to detect frequency and intensity. Aside from the fun of playing instruments, the infrared technology used in these recent products allows users to mimic movements and perform commands without having to physically touch the object. Just like infrared keyboards, aimed at the multi-billion dollar personal digital assistant (PDA) market, these new tools allow you to project virtual objects that perform almost as well as the physical ones (little bit of a lag in the keyboard). Since this technology eliminates physical contact, it could soon be integrated into products that are heavily used by multiple individuals (like those in hospitals, restaurants, and corporate offices) and would drastically cut down on transfer of germs/bacteria. It could also allow for the creation of virtual applications, without the limitations of small PDA screens, which could further unchain us from the common everyday computer/laptop.

Scott Aughenbaugh is a web assistant at CSIS. His posts will focus on cutting-edge innovations in science and technology.