A long flat keyboard that's spring-loaded, and like a contractor's tape measure, rolls up into its case. The entire device may be only two inches wide, including a built-in speaker. Unroll it onto a flat surface, to play.
-- Amos Kito, Apr 17 2004

Roll up piano http://www.pointles...dgets/roll-up_piano
Not exactly the same, but very similar. 90% baked I'd say [Bad Jim, Oct 25 2009]

Now can you do me one of those that plays itself...
-- DrCurry, Apr 17 2004


I recall either reading in some sci-fi book or seeing in a film a scene where a future musician unrolls a flat keyboard onto a table and starts playing.
-- waugsqueke, Apr 17 2004


//a future musician unrolls a flat keyboard//

I didn't find anything while researching this idea, but it makes sense that it's been done someplace. This idea started as spring switches on fingertips, and a pulley system on the wrists. But that seemed too problematic.
-- Amos Kito, Apr 17 2004


Still very cool.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Apr 18 2004


Flat, rollable keyboards have been around for ages, but I've never heard of one in the shape of a tape measure. Croissanted!
-- Joolin, Oct 24 2009


I misread this horribly, thinking of the tape program of an automatic piano sliding around someones waist whilst playing the notes encoded.
-- wjt, Oct 24 2009


I think it'd be a bit weird to play, no action to the keys. Cool though.
-- kaz, Oct 25 2009


baked, but super [+] for the measuring-tape mechanism.
-- FlyingToaster, Oct 26 2009


I bought 3 of a cheap version of the "roll up piano" several years ago, and was really disappointed (flaky keys, poor workmanship.)

When I first saw this idea, I was reminded of a technique developed in the late '70s - early '80s involving replacing the bow hairs of a violin bow with a piece of 1/4" magnetic tape, (previously recorded with sound(s) including piano tones.)

The bridge of the violin was replaced with a magnetic tape recorder play head, and the usual repro. electronics.

Playing involved bow speed affecting pitch, and position of the tape "bow" affecting volume.
-- csea, Oct 27 2009


//appearance// the keyboard is inside and immune to weather during transport; could hang it off a belt-loop.
-- FlyingToaster, Oct 27 2009


// [-] for being well and truly Baked. //

I've never seen one of these. A spring-loaded roll-up keyboard that clips to your belt... do you have a link? Otherwise I disagree with the 'baked' call. And curious - even if it was, why would bakedness warrant a negative vote? How are those two things related?

[csea], I recall Laurie Anderson did something along those lines in her shows.
-- tatterdemalion, Oct 27 2009



random, halfbakery