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Virtual Laser Keyboard Hitting the Market

Unknown
edited January 2004 in Science & Tech
A new hi-tech device looks set to hit the market this quarter, a device that uses a laser to draw an image of a keyboard on to a surface. It may turn out not to be a practical piece of kit, but one thing is for certain, it has the cool factor.
laserkeyboard.jpg

[blockquote]We Reported back in 2002 about a new "Virtual Keyboard" that uses a laser to draw an image of keyboard keys on a surface. It was a new gadget being unveiled by Siemens at the CeBIT computer fair in Hanover, Germany. Today, there is a new company on the block called, iBIZ Technology Corp. They are planning to market their new virtual keyboard in the first quarter of 2004. The VKB (Virtual Keyboard) attaches to handhelds and projects the image of a full-size keyboard onto the surface of the desk where the handheld is placed, allowing the user to input text without a physical keyboard.

"There are no mechanical moving parts whatsoever in the Virtual Laser Keyboard," said Ken Schilling, President and CEO of iBIZ. "It provides a projected image that is the perfect portable input device for PDAs. It's similar in responsiveness to regular keyboards, but extremely futuristic looking." Read on for a picture of this futuristic keyboard.
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[link=http://www.overclockersclub.com/newscomment.php?article=7328384]Read more[/link]

Comments

  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    It seems cool, but I need to feel the key press to realize I've pressed the key - I'd probably make more typos with a keyboard I couldn't feel.

    Of course, I said something similar about 'quiet key' keyboards about 10 years ago... now I can't stand the old tactile keyboards... clackclackclackclackclackclackclackclack...
  • edcentricedcentric near Milwaukee, Wisconsin Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    How about projecting on a piece of foam, then you could have your feel also.
  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    Interesting idea. But I probably can't afford a laser keyboard anyway! ;D
  • Straight_ManStraight_Man Geeky, in my own way Naples, FL Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    Me too, for a laser projection. But that is in essence an interactive headsup display projected flat instead of vertically,and it can use motion sensing to tell where your finger is. Trick wioll be to slow it down enough thta it does not give you words with one move of finger across keyboard if you hiesitate and hover fingers in motion area field it picks up, as I would. GUARANTEED.

    John-- who needs click and tactile to function.... :D
  • drasnordrasnor Starship Operator Hawthorne, CA Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    Pretty soon it'll be like those keyboards in Xenosaga, where the holographic keys depress in air as your fingers move through the motion area (ie, you move to press a key and the image of the key depresses as your finger moves through it.)

    Pretty neat.

    -drasnor :fold:
  • BoogieBoogie Happy Valley, UT, USA
    edited January 2004
    This is much cooler, I just got one of these. I love it.
    Touch Stream Keyboard
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