The Beamz Laser Triggered Instrument allows you to pay an instrument without actually needing lessons or practice. At base, this seems to be a throwback to the days of the Tharemine. But I digress, this nifty little device uses lasers to create sounds. As you move your hands through any of the four light beams, the device turns your movements into sounds. The device can be set to emulate the sound of many different instruments, making it a kind of keyboard for playing notes that are never out of key and always sound good. And really, isn’t that what we’re all about when we try to play music? That is music that sounds good? 
This device can be used to arrange and create music, but also to interact with videos and games like ShadowBeamz, an interactive music game. Granted there are a variety of other games available for download at the Beamz Community. 
Down to the nitty-gritty. You’ll want to connect this device to a computer of somesort (either a desktop or laptop) with 1.3GHz processing, 2GB of RAM, and 5GB of HDD space. As for software, you’ll need Windows 7, Vista, or XP. For those of us that are part of the Cult of Mac Computers, we’ll need to run Boot Camp in order to get this device working. Regardless of what type of computer you connect this device to, you’ll need at least one dedicated USB port, since the Beamz can’t be connected to a USB hub. The device comes with a DVD-ROM with installation instructions and software, and, I’m guessing, some sort of tutorial. 
This seems like it would be a pretty fun device. However, I’m more of a fan of the DIY theramine or Guitar Hero. If you are interested in devices like this you may also be interested in the niftiness that is the SyncoSmasher or this unique electronically modified didgeridoo. 
If you’re a music minded or geek gadget minded person, you’ll probably want to at least do a little research about the Beamz. It seems like it could be a lot of fun for groups, at parties, and that sort of thing. Running just $199.95 at x-tremegeek.com.
