Thanks for that link. This is the approach I've been interested in for a long time, it has the ability to play things that a human never could (the size of and number of fingers on the human hand limit the chords you can achieve). But it's pretty decisively the machine playing there. The human participation element in the MIT version is a very interesting addition.
I think a combination of their software and body-side mechanics with the Russian fretboard apparatus could do some really interesting things sonically. But it would still be less fun to play than the MIT guitar in its current form.
So functionally it's roughly equivalent to a Gizmotron https://www.gizmotron.com/ with extra solenoids to push the wheels up and down. Actually the Gizmo is better in several respects: it doesn't block the fretboard (though it can be an obstacle for the picking/plucking hand), doesn't prevent string bending and by now seems to have a less staccato and less harsh-sounding string activation.
It has a drive shaft, worm gears, and a single motor. Seems like an odd design. I wonder if I can build similar device using a 6mm DC motor for each string and some gears to crank up the torque?
AI augmentation, human-machine symbiosis, etc, are definitely interesting.
What's up with vimeo though? Almost 2020 and it still doesn't work properly. I don't think I've ever played a video without constant stutters, buffering, etc.
Letting it play all the way through in order to buffer the whole thing, so that you can play it again, this time 'preloaded', results in it starting the download over - arrghh!
I'm always pleased to see vimeo due to higher quality video, and lack of buffering, unlike youtube, which does buffer for me from time to time. So we definitely have very different experiences.
This could spice up the next Tame Impala[1] or St. Vincent[2] tours.
Mentioning them because both Kevin Parker and Annie Clark tend to be interesting in their guitar engineering, while creating popular, accessible and increasingly synth-driven pop/rock.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNLXYuqPRSc