This should be of some interest to new music and world music fans:
Geoff Smith believes he has come up with the first multicultural acoustic piano – what he has trademarked as a fluid piano – which allows players to alter the tuning of notes either before or during a performance. Instead of a pianist having a fixed sound, 88 notes from 88 keys, Smith’s piano has sliders allowing them access to the different scales that you get in, for example, Indian and Iranian music. For good measure, Smith has included a horizontal harp.

Check the link below to see the article and a video demo of the new instrument

Fine-tuning: composer reinvents the piano 

from the Guardian: November 23, 2009