New interface to drive music

The Expression Synthesis Project (ESP) from the University of Southern California uses an automobile's driving interface to control a piece of music. Engineer/pianist Elaine Chew and her grad students first transform a MIDI musical score into a "road" that maps the basic structure of the piece. The wheel and pedals enable the performer to "drive" the song and reinterpret the composition in real time. From USC:

The road's turns suggest to the driver when to slow down and speed up. however, the ultimate decision on what to do at each turn is entirely in the driver's hands (or foot). The foot pedals control both the tempo and the volume of the music. Additionally, buttons mounted on the wheel (see photo) act as the equivalent of the pedals on the piano, making the notes either sustain or cut off crisply.

Link to press release, Link to project page