Tod Machover delivered a lecture earlier this year for the Library of Congress “Music and the Brain” series. In this interview, Tod talks about his interest in developing technology to bring musical experiences to all kinds of people. He describes how hyperinstruments were originally developed for work commissioned by virtuosi like Yo-yo Ma. This approach evolved into the audience-participation “Brain Opera” and eventually into the hit music game Guitar Hero. The conversation goes on to discuss how the Opera of the Future research group at the M.I.T. Media Lab is exploring how interactive music environments can place the power for creative expression and communication into the hands of all people, from young children to people living with severe disabilities and Alzheimer’s disease.
Opera of the Future 