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currently no market ...well, I want one. That is, I'd like something normally the size of a USB key with a screen the size of, say, an IPAQ screen when in use. Ideally, the device would also contain a projection keyboard, since as PDAs / mobile 'phones get smaller, the input mechanisms rapidly become unusable.

I don't think i'll bother until they get round to releasing these http://www.alpern.org/weblog/stories/2003/01/09/pr ojectionKeyboards.html

I think you want one of these.

Jeez, it's not like this is a new idea. If they patent this, good for them, but I don't see a reason for it to be patented in the first place - this idea has been in the air or in some form of implementation for a long time now, just watch Minority Report.

I am sure that the patent is not too hard to get, all they have to do is say: but we have a seperate display on every button! Not like that has never been done before, right?

It will be handier and handier to have virtual keyboards, and in fact, they obviously already exist.

However, soon enough, as with other inventions, it just may be that we get a glass panel in front of us, and the display/input conforms to the user and his/her function, instead of the other way around. ;)

When you have this

Projection Keyboard The keyboard is made of light projected on any flat hard surface. This would be as bug proof as it can get.

If you can sterilize your table, you can sterilize your keyboard.

Projection Keyboards

These would be great in areas with communial computers.

I'd be interested in having some kind of touch screen and maybe one of those , if there are any that work with a Mac. Keep the Mini safe in a high cupboard and just have a flip-down suspended screen and keyboard projector on the underside. That would be sweet! Maybe even mount the Mini to the door or side of the cupboard so that the DVD slot was aligned with one in the cupboard. Hell, the ports could be extended and aligned that way now.

There is, if i recall, a device that beams an InfraRed keyboard on the desk and detects your virtual pressing on that "keyboard".

ok, found a link... http://www.alpern.org/weblog/stories/2003/01/09/pr ojectionKeyboards.html too much red if you ask me..

Maybe it would be possibe for a computer to use both this and one of those projected keyboards you could have a tiny useful device.

Doesn't this strike anyone else as pretty, well..useless? Cellphone in a wrist-watch? How do I dial a number when I want to make a call? Or is there some attachable keypad you use to dial the number?

The technology already exists to have a HUD projected on your glasses or even using lasers to superimpose images directly on your retinas. Many cell phones already have voice dialing and for text messages there are
projected keyboards

According to this article, Think Outside will have a Bluetooth Stowaway keyboard on the market this month (May, 2004). There's also this fascinating keyboard from a South Korean company, listed as "coming soon." If you want something smaller, check out the FrogPad, specifically the BlueFrog model (available for pre-order). It's one fifth the size of a normal keyboard but emulates all normal PC/Mac keyboard functions. This device looks absolutely ideal for a home theater controller.

If you can wait, oh, a few years, you might have other options.

A virtual keyboard like this one would make a great accessory for that . Maybe even glasses like these . I know what I want for christmas !

Here are also a few nifty (and probably expensive) solutions. All you should hear is the tapping of the fingers on the table ;)

Of course this adds yet another light source to the dark room...

Here is a summary of some people who have a real live working invention, not something they just thought up that might be possible one day

ROTFLMAO

I can just see this Australian beanpole Joseph moaning and screaming about how he hates his father (James) the pompous buzzwordful gasbag.

heeeeeeere's KAJI!
He'll keep 'em in check.

According to his weblog, the article is about ten days old, that's all. As it seems to be with all these things (except Apple browsers, of course), they're all announced months before they're available, just to drum up some interest.

http://www.hcii.cs.cmu.edu/People/Masters_students /Masters_current.html
and click on the video on the right.

Micah
www.alpern.org