Holy Trinity Student Secures Canadian Patent for His Air Piano Invention
Most students spend their free time playing video games, practising sports, or hanging out with friends.
When he was in Grade 10 at Holy Trinity Catholic High School, Ji-Hong Wu spent his time teaching himself how to create an invention that could turn hand movements in the air into music.
Today, that idea has become a patented innovation.
One year after earning third place at ROBOT Fest 2025, an international robotics competition held in Michigan, Ji-Hong has successfully secured a Canadian patent for his virtual “air piano” program. His patent application in the United States is still under review.
The technology allows users to play piano notes with hand movements alone, transforming an imaginary keyboard into a musical instrument through coding and motion recognition.
Learning What Wasn’t Taught
Creating the invention was only part of the challenge.
After developing his project, Ji-Hong decided to pursue patent protection for his work. Rather than hiring a patent lawyer or agent, he handled the process himself.
Through extensive research and self-directed learning, he taught himself how to draft a patent application, navigate intellectual property regulations, and understand the requirements of both the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
As the applications moved through the review process, Ji-Hong worked directly with patent examiners, answering questions, addressing concerns, and refining his applications to meet the required standards.
The experience required patience, persistence, and a willingness to keep learning through every challenge.
Building Bridges Between Curiosity and Achievement
This year, the Ottawa Catholic School Board’s focus within our three-year Spiritual Theme, Open Doors, Build Bridges, Nourish New Beginnings, has been Build Bridges.
Ji-Hong’s journey is a powerful example of what that can look like in practice.
He built bridges between curiosity and innovation, between an idea and a real-world application, and between classroom learning and independent discovery. Along the way, he demonstrated many of the skills that help students thrive, including creativity, critical thinking, communication, perseverance, and problem-solving.
His accomplishment is also a reminder that learning does not always begin with having the answers. Sometimes it begins with a question, a challenge, or an idea that refuses to be ignored.
Looking Ahead
Receiving a Canadian patent is an extraordinary accomplishment for anyone. For a high school student, it is particularly rare.
For Ji-Hong, however, it appears to be just one step in a much larger journey.
According to Holy Trinity Principal Cori Pinault, “he is already exploring new ideas and imagining what he might create next”.
If his air piano is any indication, the future will be worth watching.
