An instrument developed by biomedical engineer Jordan Nguyen allows Jessica Irwin to play music with her eyes.

“Technology is my life. Without it, I am stuffed,” said Jessica Irwin in a segment on the ABC’s 7:30 Report that aired last week. Born with cerebral palsy, Irwin is a professional photographer, but on Saturday night she realised her dream of playing music. Thanks to technology developed by biomedical engineer Jordan Nguyen, she made her debut performance at the Sydney Opera House. “Being able to play music using Jordan’s creation is amazing, a dream come true,” she said.

Using an instrument developed by Nguyen, Jessica Irwin performed with the Australia Piano Quartet, who are Ensemble in Residence at the University of Technology, Sydney. The world premiere of Whispering Pectoriloquy, co-written by Nguyen and the Quartet’s violinist Rebecca Chan, saw Irwin playing music using her eye movements in a performance at the Sydney Opera House’s Utzon Room.

Irwin performing with the Australia Piano Quartet

“The software allows a person to control the computer with their eyes and basically play our music device that we custom-made with Jess,” said Nguyen in the ABC’s...