In the 06.10.12 MMD Howard Wyman reported that "computer science students
at Carnegie Mellon University have built a MIDI-controlled bagpipe,"
referring us to a webpage giving details and a sound sample.

That is hysterical, and thank you!  For those who do not know, Carnegie-
Mellon University was founded by Andrew Carnegie, who was born in Scotland
about as poor as you could be and still live.  He came to Pittsburgh, the
Silicon Valley of the 1800's, and became a telegrapher for the railroad,
which put him in the middle of the action.  After developing the steel
industry into a serious business, he rebuilt the city and  installed a
library/museum/concert hall complex in his old neighborhood.  To train new
engineers for his industries he started a college.

Carnegie-Mellon is sort of a miniature MIT with a strong arts program
attached, and one of their music majors is in bagpiping.  They have a
substantial piper band, and an exceptionally powerful computer science
department.  Hence the instrument under discussion.

This is the same school that developed an internet-friendly Coca-Cola
vending machine.

Mark Kinsler