Stay Curious

SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AND UNLOCK ONE MORE ARTICLE FOR FREE.

Sign Up

VIEW OUR Privacy Policy


Discover Magazine Logo

WANT MORE? KEEP READING FOR AS LOW AS $1.99!

Subscribe

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

FIND MY SUBSCRIPTION
Advertisement

What's Next for the Godfather of 'Guitar Hero'?

Tod Machover explores sound and physiology.

The Cocoon is Tod Machover's latest installation.Phase One Photography

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news

Sign Up

Tod Machover is more than the godfather of Guitar Hero.

The inventor, composer and MIT professor created the technology behind the popular video game series, but for Machover, music is not just entertainment: It’s a tool with potential health applications ranging from diagnosing early Parkinson’s disease to retraining stroke victims to speak.

Machover’s new installation, called Vocal Vibrations, looks at relationships between the voice and human physiology. It opens at The Lab Cambridge in Boston in October. Machover spoke with writer Cory Ramey for Discover about research that’s just starting to tap music’s potential for improving health.

Tod Machover's latest installation explores sound and physiology. | Jonathan Williams

Discover: A highlight of Vocal Vibrations is the Cocoon, a little room where visitors hold a vibrating orb. How does it work?

Machover: You have a high-quality little microphone that fits over your ear and comes across your cheek. When you pick ...

Stay Curious

JoinOur List

Sign up for our weekly science updates

View our Privacy Policy

SubscribeTo The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Subscribe
Advertisement

0 Free Articles