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Virtual Keyboard a Reality 263

Posted by CmdrTaco from the why-the-hell-not dept.
billmaly writes "Yahoo has a photo and blurb here about a Virtual Keyboard That shows a photo and bit of text on a virtual keyboard for Palm and other mobile devices. Applications seen for mobile computing, as well as areas where a standard, physical keyboard are not practical. Very cool stuff from Siemens!"
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Virtual Keyboard a Reality More

Virtual Keyboard a Reality

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  • Yeah. Déjavu (Score:1, Troll)

    by sconest ( 188729 )
    Reminds me of this [slashdot.org]

  • Very cool (Score:4, Insightful)

    by CaptainAlbert ( 162776 ) on Wednesday March 20, 2002 @08:02AM (#3193409) Homepage
    Excellent idea (although perhaps red-on-brown isn't the most ergnomic of configurations) :)

    I can see a particular application for this - people who have to author documents in many different languages. If you're a translator, or you're working on application localisation, you're quite often going to want a different key-map from your everyday layout. With this thing, a couple of clicks could give you a keyboard laid out for writing Russian, Greek, German, or whatever-you-like!

    Perhaps you could even program it to give you an "any" key... :)

  • Speed? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by SimplyCosmic ( 15296 ) on Wednesday March 20, 2002 @08:03AM (#3193410) Homepage
    Besides the question of how quickly and accurately this device can detect your "key taps", there's also the question of the lack of tactile feedback from a physical key press slowing you down.

    Sure it's psychological, but I can remember just how painfully slow typing on my Timex Sinclair's membrane keyboard was.

    Add to that the normal lag of a character appearing on the screen, and I'll hazard a guess that using the built in hand recognisition will be the way to go.

    • Re:Speed? (Score:2, Funny)

      by Kingpin ( 40003 )
      Just project onto your girlfriends butt?

    • Re:Speed? (Score:4, Insightful)

      by Hektor_Troy ( 262592 ) on Wednesday March 20, 2002 @08:32AM (#3193513)
      I'll hazard a guess that using the built in hand recognisition will be the way to go.

      I don't know about you, but I can type aprox. 250 chars per minute on a regular keyboard with aprox. 0.5% errors. I can probably write around 60 chars per minute using normal handwriting. That's a 75% slowdown, if you're right. Me - I'd much rather use a keyboard.

      Besides the question of how quickly and accurately this device can detect your 'key taps"[...]

      Well, since a regular keyboard can "only" keep up with 30 chars per second (1,800 chars per minute), you "only" need to be able to translate 30 keytaps per second. Given the power of even low-end processors, I don't think this will be a problem; I'll guess that it'll be the reading-equipment, that'll be setting the limits at first.

    • Re:Speed? (Score:4, Insightful)

      by GroupCaptain ( 533193 ) on Wednesday March 20, 2002 @10:04AM (#3193930) Homepage
      If you have to have tactile feedback, then this wouldn't be for you. I have been using a keyboard/mouse http://www.fingerworks.com/stealth_product.html with no tactile feedback for 2 months now, and love it. Works really well, and is just "different" from a regular keyboard.

      However, one huge problem I see with the projected keyboard is finding the home keys. The Stealth has little bumps on all the home keys, and they are VITAL. It allows you to QUICKLY realign the fingers every time you pause. It would be very time consuming if you had to look at the keyboard each time. The realignment is necessary since you don't get to sense hand drift at each key press the way you do with a normak keyboard.

      Adrian

    • Re:Speed? (Score:2, Interesting)

      by Kyzia ( 544710 )
      Maybe the virtual keyboard could be projected onto a blank 'actual' keyboard, satisfying tactile feedback requirements and language switching requirements in one go...
    • Part of what you describe is an old issue. Have you ever seen the keyboard that come with the original IBM PCs? The things clicked with every keypress. It drives me nuts, but the reason was that secretaries were disoriented by not having the audio feedback from a typewriter. Silly, but true.

      So.. in the way that the example I give is silly, I think that we can all get used to it pretty easily. I would love to try out a virtual keyboard.
    • The biggest problem with the Sinclair (yes, I had one) - was not only was there no tactile feedback, but the amount of pressure required to activate a key was non trivial. I remember having to press rather hard, and I never knew how hard was hard enough, so I had to press probably twice as hard as necessary just to make sure.

      If the sensitivity issues can be worked out, (ie. actually activating a keystroke on a very light touch) - I think this could be an acceptable solution. Sure beats carrying that crappy fold-up keyboard.
    • You could have the attached computer make keyclick noises whenever it registers key-presses, which might help (if the time lag wasn't too great).

  • looks cool, but... (Score:4, Insightful)

    by jimbolaya ( 526861 ) on Wednesday March 20, 2002 @08:03AM (#3193413) Homepage
    This really does look neat, but I see two problems with it. First, it won't provide the tactile feedback of a real keyboard, so I imagine it would be easy to type between "keys." Second, notice how far away the "keyboard" is away from the Palm; I think the little screen would be difficult to read from that distance (at least it would be for a poor myopic fool like me!)

  • Company's Website Addy... (Score:5, Informative)

    by phunhippy ( 86447 ) <zavoidNO@SPAMgmail.com> on Wednesday March 20, 2002 @08:03AM (#3193414) Journal
    http://www.vkb.co.il

    you can read all about it in detail there...
  • Now, lemme see Siemens make virtual projected phones!

  • headline (Score:4, Funny)

    by President Chimp Toe ( 552720 ) on Wednesday March 20, 2002 @08:05AM (#3193420)
    Please excuse me for being a pedant, but the headline

    "Virtual keyboard a reality"

    is an oxymoron.
  • Was it 3 days ago that you guys ran this same story... please stop, this is starting to piss everyone off.
  • Anyone see the comparison with the virual interfaces they show in the Final Fantasy movie?
    I thought those were neat, but still distant future.

    Now, it seems I could project a computer interface on the wall if I want to!

    Where can i buy this?!
  • how is this different from these [slashdot.org] ??

  • reconfiguration? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by nesneros ( 214571 ) on Wednesday March 20, 2002 @08:09AM (#3193431) Homepage
    Wonder if you can automatically re-configure it to simulate Dvorak keyboard? That would be wonderful.

  • How does it detect keystrokes? (Score:3, Insightful)

    by mnordstr ( 472213 ) on Wednesday March 20, 2002 @08:11AM (#3193436) Journal
    What is accepted as a keystroke? I know when I'm writing I tend to hold my fingers on the buttons. And sometimes I might want to keep a button down for a period of time. How does this work on a keyboard that optically detects the strokes? And doesn't it become ergonomically really unsuitable for longer periods of writing?
    • This isn't the sort of device that you'd use for extended typing. Think more along the lines of those tiny thumb-keyboards, or the foldable ones, that you can get for Palms and other handhelds. These already do decently in the marketplace because people want something a little faster than stylus input, but without the bulk of a full-size keyboard. It's really about portability, not ergonomics.

  • At my office, our servers have redundant power supplies. I would recommend Slashdot getting servers with redundant power supplies also if they do not already have them. See, redundant power supplies are actually the good kind of redundant, unlike the redundant stories that are published to your web site. You see redundant power supplies serve a purpose, and redundant stories just piss people off.

    Please consider this in the future.

  • Typing in the Dark (Score:4, Insightful)

    by darkov ( 261309 ) on Wednesday March 20, 2002 @08:14AM (#3193452)
    Neat keyboard and great for people like me who like to use computers in low or light. I'm always turning on pesky desklamps to find the keyboard.

    The lack of tactile feedback is a bummer though. Maybe if it chirped when you hit a key, though that might drive you nuts.
    • Of course for tactile feedback version 2.0 would have a field where if you cross over the lines(keys) to many times or linger too long you get a big shock :) that would be some feedback... just a thought...

    • Neat keyboard and great for people like me who like to use computers in low or light. I'm always turning on pesky desklamps to find the keyboard.

      Try the Kensington FlyLight [edgereview.com]. It plugs into the USB port for its power. I love it, and my GF bought one for her boss for xmas, who loves it too.

      So far it is the only Windows USB device that has never crashed. :)

  • Oh just lovely (Score:4, Funny)

    by Diamon ( 13013 ) on Wednesday March 20, 2002 @08:15AM (#3193456)
    The picture on the homepage shows a virtual keyboard projected on a car dash and the driver typing while driving. Don't we have enough ways for idiots to kill themselves (and others) by distracting them while driving?
  • If you still have to carry around a piece of hardware, what good is it?

    Hopefully they will work on making it smaller so it can be integrated into PDA's and cell phones. From the article it looks like the direction they want to head.

  • Wow, a virtual keyboard take up no space !! WRONG !!

    look at the size of that projector thingy. it's big! Those rubber/cloth folding keyboards are a lot more practical. A flat object is much more pocket-friendly than boxsy objects.

    The formfactor is important here. for a desktop, the size doesn't matter that much and a normal kb is the way to go.
  • I hope they didn't let anyone play with it. We wouldn't want Micro$oft to get in a snit [slashdot.org] again, now would we.

    I can't wait for Micro$oft to crash and burn.

  • NICE! (Score:5, Funny)

    by MikeDX ( 560598 ) on Wednesday March 20, 2002 @08:17AM (#3193465) Journal
    Absolutely lovely, now when my girlfriend wants attention when im on the computer all she has to do is lie naked on me and i'll se her naked body as a keyboard :)) Now all we need is a mouse like this and we can perform the JEDI MOUSE TRICK.

    • Re:NICE! (Score:4, Funny)

      by sahala ( 105682 ) <sahalaNO@SPAMgmail.com> on Wednesday March 20, 2002 @08:58AM (#3193640)
      Absolutely lovely, now when my girlfriend wants attention when im on the computer all she has to do is lie naked on me and i'll se her naked body as a keyboard :)) Now all we need is a mouse like this and we can perform the JEDI MOUSE TRICK.

      I guess that will take care of that whole tactile feedback issue that a few other posters have noted.

    • You won't need the mouse. I'm pretty sure you can find a suitable joystick.

    • Re:NICE! (Score:5, Funny)

      by lpontiac ( 173839 ) on Wednesday March 20, 2002 @10:13AM (#3193969)
      when my girlfriend wants attention when im on the computer all she has to do is lie naked on me and i'll se her naked body as a keyboard :)) Now all we need is a mouse like this

      Dude, just reach down between the legs. It's like the trackpoint on a notebook :)

      • It's like the trackpoint on a notebook :)

        If, that is, you can find it. American males, for example, tend to be very deficient in this particular regard.
    • Now all we need is a mouse like this and we can perform the JEDI MOUSE TRICK.

      Perhaps you could also simulate the IBM-laptop 'nipple mouse'.

  • Cool (Score:4, Interesting)

    by redhog ( 15207 ) on Wednesday March 20, 2002 @08:21AM (#3193482) Homepage
    Hm, why not turn of that projector, and you'l have an invisible keyboard, that one must know where if is to tap in things on. Perfect for placing outside ones door as a lock (log in with username and password, without any feedback at all, to gain access to the house). In addition, it will look damn cool when one just move ones hands in strange patterns on a totally normal table next to the door, and the door magically opens. And when someone examines the table, it is just a normal table...
    • [...] Perfect for placing outside ones door as a lock (log in with username and password, without any feedback at all, to gain access to the house). [...]

      Just when you thought getting the key into keyhole was hard while being drunk there's a guy suggesting that you should type random patterns (no words in passwords) into invisible keyboard!

  • I have a hard enough time finding keyboards that I like and trying to type on a table top sounds like a bad idea. I'm pretty picky about key travel (the distance that a key moves when pressed). I really like the small key travel of laptops and I searched around for weeks before finding a desktop keyboard that had an acceptable key travel. Even if you're not anal about key travel like I am, it's nice to have some sense that your keys are in the right place by having something move. I imagine it would be pretty easy to get lost trying to type on a table with no feedback from the table.
  • I don't know, might be the huge pencil sharpener looking projector but, I like the keyboard [senseboard.com] talked about on this story [slashdot.org] much better than this new one.

  • how this works (Score:5, Insightful)

    by seanadams.com ( 463190 ) on Wednesday March 20, 2002 @08:23AM (#3193496) Homepage
    I'm guessing based on the photo. This might be totally wrong, but it's the best explanation I can some up with:

    I doubt if they're using galvanometers and mirrors to scan that image onto the desktop. For one, they're too expensive, and also that pattern is way too complex to draw with even the fastest galvos.

    More likely it's a hologram etched onto a lens, with a really bright laser diode behind it. I'm skeptical as to how visible that keyboard would be except in complete darkness.

    So how to they determine which key you're pressing? Well, if they were scanning the image onto the surface, it would just be a matter of using a single photo transistor to measure the brightness of the dot as it moves across the surface. If the brightness changes at a particular point, then you know there's an obstruction. You can map this to a particular key by taking into account the positions of the fingers in the normal typing position. Multiple keys might be obstructed at one time - you only count the one that's closest to the light source.

    If it's a static image, it's a little harder. The only way I can think of is to either use a CCD to to capture the whole image, or use a mechanical photo interruptor to blank out a section of the image at a time.

    If it's cost effective and it really works, this is a damned impressive product.

    • Re:how this works (Score:3, Insightful)

      by NoBeardPete ( 459617 )

      This doesn't sound quite right to me. If that was the case, you would trigger the keys when your fingers will still in the air, possibly even a few inches off the table. I mean, you'll start obstructing the beam to the space bar while your finger is still in the air above, say, the "y" key.

      Perhaps it uses a LADAR type system to get a specific location on your finger. That sounds more feasible to me, anyway.

  • I don't know about you, but i don't really see the utility of having to project a virtual keyboard onto a flat surface. I use the stowaway portable keyboard with my iPaq, and the thing rules. I can use it on my lap, in a meeting, on a plane...almost anywhere.

    I think you'd look kinda foolish fiddling around with you crotch on an airplane, trying to explain "Oh, no...no, no - don't call the sky marshalls, i'm typing!"

    I think this is a case of technlogy for technolgies sake.

    For now, i'll use my keyboard occasionally, and my hand predominantly, with my handheld, thank you uvery much.

  • How does the virtual keyboard detect keypresses?

    I can't believe no one is talking about that on slashdot!

  • Backup often! (Score:4, Funny)

    by InsaneCreator ( 209742 ) on Wednesday March 20, 2002 @08:29AM (#3193504)
    You have the keyboard projected on you desk and your cat comes running by, stepping on the keys...

    [Ctrl] + a
    [Del]
    [Ctrl] + s

    ...dead cat.

  • It would be cool if (Score:3, Funny)

    by s4ltyd0g ( 452701 ) on Wednesday March 20, 2002 @08:32AM (#3193514)
    I could blow this up and then walk on it. Maybe I'd get more exercise this way.
  • With a keyboard like that, spilling coke on it won't be a terrific problem anymore :)

  • Ah, finally, I get to put my air-typing - practiced for years since watching Tron - to good use.

  • Only problem I can see is that the top row of keys is much smaller than the bottom one due to the way the image is projected (i.e. no correction for angled plane, like road signs painted on roads look strectched if your not in a car).

  • Secure ? (Score:2, Redundant)

    by mirko ( 198274 )
    The problem with infra-red keyboards is that it becomes easy to just sniff what their user sends to his computer...
    With such devices, won't there be similar issues ?

  • BWAHAHAHA!! (Score:4, Insightful)

    by psxndc ( 105904 ) on Wednesday March 20, 2002 @08:40AM (#3193551) Journal
    No tactile feedback! The hunt-and-peckers will rise again! Viva La Revolution!

    psxndc

  • User defined keyboard? (Score:2, Interesting)

    by Arricc ( 75463 )
    So.. as its virtual, can I change the layout and add user defined hot-keys and get rid of all those ones I don't use?

    Can it emulate the layout of a variety of keyboards - Sparc style or multilanguage?

    • I don't think it is scanned - that would be a heck of a laser scanning job, in terms of angle and speed. It would be very expensive.

      The display probably comes from illuminating a comptuer-generated diffraction grating with a laser diode. No moving parts! But not customizable.

      This is the same technology they use for projecting hearts, dollar signs, and skulls from laser pointers.
  • Wow, it's remarkably similar to the lead item in this [slashdot.org] recent story. What a rip off! :-)

    -me
  • I hadn't thought of this before, but do you need to keep your hands hovered above the "keys" all the time? I usually find that my fingers are resting on the keys until I hit them. Also, does it measure you hitting the key, or your finger moving down toward the "key"? If it's motion, how much motion is needed?

    Questions, questions, questions ... but what about answers?
  • 1. A keyboard like this, except nothing is actually projected on the table; only I see it because it's projected on my retina by the virtual monitor from yesterday's story.

    2. Oh by the way, my computer's display is also projected on my retina.

    3. A microphone/earplug that allows me to issue voice commands to the computer without a visible mic.

    4. Wireless network, of course.

    I could sit in Barnes and Noble freaking people out, talking to myself and tapping on the table.
  • Take a test using touch typing:
    http://www.typingtest.com [typingtest.com]

    Now, try it again--only hitting the keys that you have visually checked the locations of.

    I was surprised at how high a score I got (touch typing).. I hadn't taken a test since high school. Years of IT/programming work just seem to hone typing skills.

  • as seen earlier:

    Virtual Keyboard [slashdot.org] [slashdot.org] by CmdrTaco with 248 comments on 05:27 PM -- Wednesday November 14 2001
    Great gadgets at CeBIT [slashdot.org] TechnologyPosted by timothy on 10:08 AM -- Monday March 18 2002

    I also remember seeing photos, etc a few months back. so the company PR geek must be happy about making into Yahoo, etc.

  • Patent #6,353,428: looks good to me. (Score:4, Informative)

    by WEFUNK ( 471506 ) on Wednesday March 20, 2002 @08:54AM (#3193618) Homepage
    I know this is kinda a dupe - but a pretty good one for a more focused discussion. When I saw this in the paper today, I thought "finally, maybe somebody legitimately patented something of interest to Slashdot readers". Siemens appears to have at least one, fairly broad patent on the device/process.

    Check out Patent #6,353,428 [uspto.gov] on the USPTO [uspto.gov] website:

    "Method and device for detecting an object in an area radiated by waves in the invisible spectral range"

    The first claim is as follows:

    "1. A system for detection of an object in an area irradiated by waves in an invisible spectral range, the system comprising:

    a projector configured such that a video image is projectable onto the area;

    a device for emitting waves in the invisible spectral range configured such that the area is substantially illuminated;

    a reception device configured such that the reception device registers the irradiated area, the reception device being specifically balanced for an invisible spectral range corresponding to the waves; and

    a computer configured with a recognition algorithm, whereby the object irradiated by the emitted waves is detected using the recognition algorithm."

    The patent seems pretty broad in that it uses phrases like "a reception device..." and "a recognition algorithm" to cover the process, but reading the specification makes it clear that the focus is on "virtual" keyboards, mousepads, and presentation pointing, and it is a bit more specific about the actual means of detection etc.

    All and all, without being an expert in the prior art or patent law, I think this one actually seems like a pretty good patent (If you believe in patents at all, of course). Also a pretty cool invention. Obviously it will have to be improved and smallified before being really useful (and integratable into my cell phone, watch, ring, etc.), but they seem to be off to a great start!

  • Virtual keyboard, wow! This is really a cool invention. It's a great step forward for mini computing. Hell, it's a great step forward for all computing, I'm sure there will be many applications for just about every device that requires wide ranging input. The problem is, like a lot of folks have said here, that there's no tactile feedback, which will slow down the expert no-look typers. I myself don't look at the keyboard and type rather quickly, and I know for certain that without the feeling of the keys I would not be able to type at all. OK, so we're going to have to actually look at the virtual keyboard to do any typing... that's a hinderance, but it's still better than no keyboard.

    We're still not to the point of "easy" data input for all computer devices. When you think about it, typing on a standard keyboard really isn't that easy. Even when you get used to it, you still make mistakes. The real "revolution" of computer input devices will be when some completely new idea comes along about how to send get input from a human and send the characters to the computer. It will take something like a glove that reads finger movement and types based on combinations of twitches, or maybe a perfect speech recognition system that can figure out the context of your words and spell everything magically. Those might not be the best solutions, or even possible for that matter, but it's going to take something like that before computing input devices get to the point where they're actually "easy" to use.

  • Looks cool, but... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by dipfan ( 192591 ) on Wednesday March 20, 2002 @09:19AM (#3193733) Homepage
    ...there's three words that would worry me about using this as a keyboard for any length of time: Repetitive Strain Injury.

    Touch-pad keyboards have pretty much been banned on office equipment since the mid-1980s because although they allowed users to type at great speed, they also caused massive incidence of RSI. Since then keyboards have all required definite "clicks" that need greater muscle movement.

    Of course this would be fine for brief use (on a PDA or similar). And it does look cool.

  • I an usinf onr of thesw keyvoardss noow, and it id rallly cool.

    (I posted almost an identical comment to this on a previous very similar slashdot story, and I got +4 Funny.)
    *crosses fingers*

  • Tactile, schmactile (Score:4, Funny)

    by The Fun Guy ( 21791 ) on Wednesday March 20, 2002 @10:00AM (#3193916) Homepage Journal
    For those of us who learned how to type on manual typewriters, with the notice bell that dinged 5 spaces before the end of the line, and the platen return arm that you had to thwack, pressing a key with anything less than an authoritative clunk would just get you laughed at. Sure it bruised the fingertips, but we liked it that way! When a man was typing back then, he knew it, by God! Then came the newfangled electric typewriters, that only took a minicing little tap, and then these nutty TV-typewriter "word processor" things (with a keyboard that's not even decently attached to the rest of it, I might add!) that hardly even need you to push the keys at all! And now, a laser-typewriter type thing that doesn't even *have* keys? You might as well just dictate to the thing and have it magically type up your words for you like some kind of plastic secretary!

    You kids think you're so smart with your rams and drivers and codes and all. I, for one, still keep my trusty can of 3-in-1 oil next to my computer. I haven't had to use it much lately, but just wait till something jams in this thing, and that smart-ass punk Corey is stumped... then we'll see who knows how to fix a broken office machine, by God!
  • Many people have pointed out many times in the comments here the very obvious problem regarding the lack of tactile feedback with this keyboard system. There doesn't seem to be a good way around that one.
    The only thing I could think of are little things on your fingers that give force feedback "clicks". That would possibly make it feel a bit more realistic. Perhaps they could use the technology of the Logitech iFeel mouse, just on a miniature scale, and one for each finger. The same things giving the feedback could also provide more information as to where the fingers are and what they're doing, which would possibly enhance the ability of the device to tell what you mean to be typing.
    For me, there will always be the IBM Model M keyboard.

  • Been there, but not done that (Score:3, Interesting)

    by pieterh ( 196118 ) on Wednesday March 20, 2002 @10:18AM (#3194001) Homepage
    I tried to invent something like this in 1994 or so. There are so many advantages to the concept, not just because it replaces a fold-out keyboard. You can chose your layout arbitrarily. Put the Enter key anywhere. Make a DVORAK. You can make the whole keyboard larger or smaller as you like. Place the keyboard on your knees when you're in a cramped plane seat.

    This combined with direct retinal stimulated displays would make for more portable computing.

    One idea I had to recognise finger positions (and I've also seen this announced since then) was for a sensor wristband that could learn what you were typing from measuring the nervous signals and tendon positions through the wrist.

    Roll on the day when we can throw away those real keyboards! It will be about 50 years too late.

  • This is going to make the chat rooms a lot more fun when your cat "walks" over your key board.

    I think that kitty is going to dig this one.... :)

  • That's what you'll get if you rest your fingers on the home row. Not significant? Try typing for a few hours without ever resting your fingers on the keys.

  • Similar Keyboard (Score:2, Interesting)

    by mjduff ( 252807 )
    I made a (somewhat) similar keyboard to help myself overcome RSI symptoms. Each key is concave, and has an infrared beam across the top so no pressure is needed to activate it. It takes some getting used to, but works great and has helped my arms/wrists immensely. See it at: http://web.mit.edu/mjduff/www/keyboard/ [mit.edu]

  • Meta keys and M&Ms (Score:2, Interesting)

    by ghmh ( 73679 )
    Just wondering if the image changes when you 'press' the shift key, or how it recognises key modifiers like control, alt etc. etc.

    Hmmm, might make using emacs a bit difficult?

    Does bring up all sorts of amusing possibilities though - Just imagine someone dropping a handful of M&M's onto your desk only to find they've accidentally reset your machine, or dialled Mongolia, or emailed your boss for you...

  • I write touch screen applications. But the hardware cost is really prohibitive to appeal where it is needed by the computer illiterate masses.

    This device could replace the screen, computer; the whole setup while allowing participants to touch regions of a surface to answer questions. Don't think of coding with this, think of remote distributed input devices with zero ware, instant customization and limitless input devices available.

  • Tactile response (Score:3)

    by BierGuzzl ( 92635 ) on Wednesday March 20, 2002 @12:15PM (#3194694)
    For those of you whining about tactile feedback, consider directing your energy into some ways this problem might be solved...

    Beyond the obvious keyboard click, produce different tones for different keypresses, so you know if you're hitting two keys with one finger without even looking

    Create a device that uses microelectronic pulses carefully directed at different nerves in your hand to simulate a keyboard -- probably best imbedded in a glove. Potentially, this could actually "feel" like a keyboard. For work in a germ or particle free environment, the device would have to be smooth enough to be worn under latex surgical gloves.

  • Tactile feedback (Score:3)

    by ucblockhead ( 63650 ) on Wednesday March 20, 2002 @12:53PM (#3194976) Homepage Journal
    What would really be interesting would be if someone would combine this with a data glove that uses piezoelectric crystals to provide tactile feedback.
  • I actually look at the screen when I type and use the mouse. The little keyboard nipples are very important for me to ensure my hands are back in the correct position before typing away.

    I also am rather certain that my fingers often find the right keys by touching various key boundaries to know where they are occasionally, but I can't be sure. (So odd to not know what one's muscle memory is doing!)

    I think foldable keyboards like the one for the Palm are the solution, not projecting...but interesting research, keep it up!
  • How can you possibly touch-type with this thing?

    Ok, yes they are showing it off as a portable keyboard for, well portables. As such it's pretty cool. But there are a lot of people talking her about using it on their regular computers and that's pretty rediculous...
  • Is this the new advertising-based model we have been hearing so much about? The same story [slashdot.org] every two days from Slashdot?

    If it is, can I pay a couple of bucks to stop it?

  • 1. modify focal length of lens.

    2. project on floor.

    3. Portable "Dance, Dance, Revolution"...

    4. Somebody hose me down before I come up with more ideas....

  • ...'cause I'm never going to get all the drool out of my current keyboard.

    It's torture to sit across the pond & watch those damn Euros get to play with all those toys while I slave away. May they all choke on Nutella sandwiches.

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