Toy Makers Create “Air Guitars” That Really Play Music
Posted June 28, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
O.K., it’s not a cure for a terrible disease and it’s not the magic bullet that will put an end to you having to fill up your car with expensive gas. But for some enthusiasts the newest invention out of Japan is just what they’ve been dreaming of – an ‘air guitar’ that actually plays real music.
For years, the less talented of us have mocked and rocked along with the world’s best guitar players, strumming tunes in the ether we couldn’t possibly play in real life. Until now. Takara Tomy Corporation’s “Air Guitar Pro” only requires you to grab hold of a small neck of a guitar and uses heat and motion sensors to reproduce a tune as you pluck imaginary strings.
The initial gadget comes with 10 hits that can be recreated without having to lift much more than a few fingers – including the iconic “Smoke On The Water”, one of the most famous rock riffs in modern music that was used earlier this week to set a new world’s record.
Another manufacturer has jumped on the same bandwagon. But Mega House’s version comes with a wrist attachment. Both toys were demonstrated at the Tokyo International Toy Show on Thursday and like the real – er, fake – thing, their ease of use is expected to be the biggest selling point. “You just put it on your wrist and shake your arm once so it will play one phrase,” explains the company’s Nana Kaneko. “In order to play an entire song, you just keep moving your arm so even children can easily play music.”
The devices hit the market next month and could wind up being the next big thing – although you’ll need real dollars to buy them. And unlike the inventions themselves, those don’t come out of thin air.
Photo Credit: Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images
