Possibility of using new types of musical electronic instruments for assistive technology

People with cerebral palsy are incapable to perform certain variety of activities that are available to other people. One of the almost impracticable activities for people with CP is to play music instruments. Modern assistive technologies partly manage to help people with CP to live a quality life and to overcome everyday obstacles (common problems). The problem is availability of modern technology, its complexity and its price. This research would present a new idea for people with CP and their possibility to perform some elementary music activities. The advantage of this technological solution is its simplicity and its market price. One more advantage is the most direct contact between the user and the instruments possible. The instruments work by sensors and servo motors, which represent the hand of the musician. The sensors can be activated by many “triggers”, like: light, touch, movement... By activating sensors the signal is translating to the servo motor, which depend on the instrument: pulls string, hits the drums or does any activity to create sound. For pretty short time that we had for testing, the instruments showed really good. We tested how much musical knowledge the children got. We conformed that the children really improved. There is one more thing that we can’t measure, but it means a lot. That is children’s smiles and the possibility for them to create music.