Keyboard

Keyboard turns a browser-sized bank of notes into an unusually flexible instrument. Play from a physical keyboard, point with a mouse, or let a webcam map face or body movement to the musical keys; scale, note-count, and MIDI options give the little instrument more range than its plain name suggests.

What is Keyboard?

The clever part is not the row of notes but the number of routes into it. Keyboard belongs to Google's Creatability collection, which explored creative tools with collaborators from the accessibility community. Its interface supports ordinary pointer and key controls, while an optional webcam mode can turn a tracked body point into a cursor. That means the same tune might be picked out with arrow keys, a mouse, or a nod across the screen. Scale and note-count controls can simplify the playable area, and MIDI output gives experienced visitors a bridge to another instrument. The current page also spells out focus and screen-reader navigation instead of hiding those instructions in a distant help file. Treat it as an experiment, though: the music, tracking, assistive-technology combinations, and current device behavior were not executed during this review.

What you can do there

• Play notes with a mouse or physical keyboard
• Use webcam-tracked face or body movement as a pointer
• Choose a scale and visible note count
• Send notes to another instrument through MIDI

Why we picked it

Keyboard makes accessibility the actual play mechanic. Switching from fingers to a nose or another tracked body point is not a novelty skin on a conventional synth; it changes who can reach the notes and how a melody can be performed. The result is both a quick musical toy and a compact lesson in flexible input design.

How to get the most from it

For the simplest start, use the arrow keys or Tab and Shift+Tab to move among notes, then press Space or Enter to sound one. Try a smaller note set before changing scales. Webcam control is optional; grant camera access only if you want to map a face or body point, and leave MIDI alone unless you already have a compatible device ready.

Good to know

Sound is central to the experience. The official project page says webcam images stay in the browser rather than being stored or sent to Google servers, but current camera, storage, and permission behavior was not independently exercised. Screen-reader setup notes are provided, yet JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, touch, and mobile behavior still need hands-on verification.

Who made it, and when?

Use All Five and Google Creative Lab is the credited creator or organization. The earliest supported launch date we found is October 2018.