"Being a Tuba player and involved in music since birth, led me to believe that playing sounds in rhythm at whatever level, be it jungle drums or symphonic flute, was one of the best ways to express peoples feelings or frustrations. It bothered me that only limited instrumentation was available for disabled people and I felt that a natural progression from the Lomak keyboard was to a musical instrument.
"I did not want to develop an instrument which would be perceived as a “toy” or “novelty”. The unit would need to be flexible enough to cater for beginners as well as serious musicians. As an instrument the Claser resembles a small piano keyboard, which is played by moving a laser dot over various note producing buttons. What is not obvious is the ability to play percussion, timpani, chromatic scales, triplets and a series of modern instrument sounds at different levels of competence.
"The concept of the Claser is not of a single instrument where people would sit at home and play in isolation, but of a universal tool which can produce any musical sound and be playable across the Internet with a few or hundreds of other people. Players should be able to choose to “play” with others or “play along” with others and be able to receive tuition from a remote source without having to leave their home.
"Satellite communication channels, modern technology and MIDI formatted files make all the above possible. All I have to do is put it together."
(Mike Watling)