Dr Helmer playing air-guitar

The wearable instrument shirt allows the wearer to play an air guitar in the usual way (using one arm to pick chords and the other to strum the imaginary instrument's strings) but with a crucial difference – it actually plays the note.

CSIRO engineer, Dr Richard Helmer explains "Our air guitar consists of a wearable sensor interface embedded in a conventional shirt which uses custom software to map gestures with audio samples.

 "It's an easy-to-use, virtual instrument that allows real-time music making – even by players without significant musical or computing skills. It allows you to jump around and the sound generated is just like an original mp3."

The t-shirt works by recognising and interpreting arm movements (via the embedded motion sensors in the sleeves) and relaying this wirelessly to a computer for audio generation. So – now wires or cables to trip over, when you're in full swing!

By customizing the software, air tambourine and air guiro is also possible, Helmer says.

"The technology – which is adaptable to almost any kind of apparel – takes clothing beyond its traditional role of protection and fashion into the realms of entertainment and a wide range of other applications including the development of clothes which will be able to monitor physiological changes," he added.