Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!ut-emx!walt.cc.utexas.edu!mcgrant
From: mcgrant@walt.cc.utexas.edu (Michael Charles Grant)
Newsgroups: comp.cog-eng
Subject: Re: one-finger keyboard
Summary: Listen to this interesting piano project
Message-ID: <20041@ut-emx.UUCP>
Date: 24 Oct 89 08:23:22 GMT
Sender: news@ut-emx.UUCP
Reply-To: mcgrant@walt.cc.utexas.edu (Michael Charles Grant)
Distribution: comp
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
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References:

I realize that this is quite a diversion from the keyboard fights, but I
thought that this would be an interesting project for you folks to consider
in your free time.  

A professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering here at
the University of Texas confronted me about a project for a young gentlemen
living in one of the local dormitories who plays piano beautifully, except
for one problem: he does not have the use of his legs, and therefore he cannot
operate the sustain pedal!  He is looking for a device that can, on the
connection of, say, a mercury switch, depress the sustain pedal.  The idea
is that he might be able to move his mouth or tilt his head to operate the
pedal as effectively as normal foot action.

Of course, there are certain restrictions that would need to be met in the
design:
1) It would need to be relatively inexpensive.
2) It would need to be quiet enough so that it did not interfere with
   the music.
3) It would need to respond about as quickly as someone can press and
   release his foot on the pedal.
4) It should be designed to easily transport from piano to piano, and fit
   under a standard wheelchair.
5) It should be electrically safe!  Remember, he probably will be using
   his head to control the pedal pusher.

I realize that perhaps this is not the exact place for such a proposal, but
I read your articles and thought you might be interested.  This young man
is quite limited in his repertoire until a solution is found, a fate that
he certainly does not deserve.  I would be very grateful to hear any 
suggestions that you might have to make about the design of this device;
but, because this is an entirely volunteer project, it would be impossible
for us to compensate you in any way.  Of course, if you were to come up
with a design yourself, you would be welcome to market it as you wished,
but we would ask for a donated model! :-)

Thank you for reading my seemingly endless babble.

Michael C. Grant, mcgrant@walt.cc.utexas.edu
Pledge Secretary, Psi Chapter, Eta Kappa Nu
The University of Texas at Austin
Mail address: c/o Eta Kappa Nu, Department of Electrical and Electronic
              Engineering ENS 142C, The University of Texas,
              Austin, Texas 78723
Phone numbers: /512/471-3238 (office), /512/926-7964 (my home)