Disabled Boy Plays Piano with His Eyes using Virtual Reality Headset

Virtual reality is growing by leaps and bounds. And while many companies are using it for gaming, such as in the case of Oculus VR, there may just be other applications. The Japanese VR headset manufacturer Fove has created Eye Play the Piano, a type of VR application that allows children with physical disabilities to play the piano.

The new headset works by tracking the eye movement of its wearers, according to The Metro. The user blinks on panels within the interface to trigger a preferred note. This note is then sent to the piano, and played.

The new technology works so well that a student managed to use it to play the piano for the December 2014 Christmas concert at the University of Tsukuba's Special Needs Education School for the Physically Challenged after only four months of practice, according to The Guardian.

Currently, Fove is trying to raise enough money to distribute the hardware to 135 schools for physically disabled children around Japan with the help of the website, Just Giving.

The new headset shows that VR technology has a wide variety of applications, rather than just being used for video games. It could improve the lives of the physically disabled, and give children the opportunity to try new experiences.

Want to learn more? Check out the video below, courtesy of YouTube.

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