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Review Of Upcoming Projection Keyboards

Posted by timothy on from the easier-than-fingernail-implants dept.

malpern writes "I've written a review of upcoming virtual keyboards based on published reports. There are pictures, descriptions, and details for each of the four major manufactures (Virtual Devices, Developer VKB, Canesta, and Senseboard Technologies)."

6 of 209 comments (clear)

  1. What about ... by whacker9 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    the feel of keyboards which is important too. I don't think this will pick up especially the senseboard ones (the rest atleast have a keyboard image). Type into thin air !! People around may take you for being psychotic or something. Plus I would really like someone to do this: "Now where is that Enter key?" heh heh heh.....

  2. A couple of issues by Pastey · · Score: 5, Interesting
    There are a few things that I think would become annoying very quickly about projection keyboards.

    The first would be the lack of tactile response. After all, your desktop or any other hard surface would become uncomfortable after just a few minutes IMHO.

    The second would be the lack of any position designators - i.e. the 'f' and 'j' keys. Most 10 fingered typers probably don't even think about it anymore, but it's very easy to lose your place without them. I suspect this would become very annoying if taking notes in class during a lecture or in a business meeting.

    As far as a good portable keyboard for a PDA, my money is on the new Stowaway XT. It's been getting really good reviews/previews.

    Anyone been lucky enough to play around with one yet?

  3. Re:Pain and Suffering by captainclever · · Score: 5, Funny

    i suppose you could project the keyboard onto an existing keyboard for comfort? either that or some jelly

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  4. F12 by bezza · · Score: 5, Funny
    I guess this is the end of my hilarious antics when I would run around and steal my co-workers F12 keys.

    How am I going to piss them off now?

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  5. Mapability? by two_ply · · Score: 5, Interesting
    When I first saw this (here on slashdot actually) after my initial "well that's pretty cool" reaction something immediately popped into my mind:

    If the technology senses finger location then the layout of the keyboard should be irrelevant, leaving the door open for the keyboard layout to be rearranged virtually. While this wouldn't be so practical for work (except for maybe switching keyboard nationality at the press of a button), how badass would that be for gaming?

    Load up UT 2005 and your keyboard layout changes to put a ton of extra keys around your direction arrows. Instead of trying to remember that Ctrl+P+2 balances your shields in Tie Fighter, you have a large "balance shields" key wherever you want it. RTS games always have somewhat unintuitive keyboard setups because they have so many keys... well imagine a soft/bouncy surface onto which a different specialized, user mappable, user configurable keyboard was projected for EACH app/game. I don't know if we'll see this right away... but I sure as hell want too.

  6. Mummy, what's that man doing? by Chocolate+Teapot · · Score: 5, Funny

    I hope he's typing on his lap dear. Oh look, there's a policeman!

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    Modest doubt is called the beacon of the wise. - William Shakespeare