Touchpad Meets Morphing Keyboard

Several sources are reporting on the new offering from the British firm Pelikon which combines a touchpad and morphing keyboard into a unique little device. "This isn't just any old morphing keyboard, you see. Not only can the board be dynamically reconfigured by backlighting different portions of the keys — the entire surface of the thing doubles as a touchpad, which you can probably imagine has virtually limitless utility in a mobile device where the space for a true touchpad simply doesn't exist. Pelikon already works with Toshiba on its domestic-market Biblio, but we'd love to see it hit devices around the world — in fact, we wouldn't really mind if they just released this prototype they're showing as a Bluetooth accessory. diNovo Mini competitor, anyone?"

Comments

Neat!

[cromar]

One step closer to the death of our current, inefficient control devices? I like the idea of devices that morph to fit the domain of the program they are controlling. On the other hand, this isn't that much different from a touch-screen emulating a keyboard... probably more sturdy, though.

Hopefully, one more (prototypical) nail in the coffin of windowing systems and carpal tunnel inducing interface devices.

Re:Neat!

[Anonymous Coward]

I like the idea of devices that morph to fit the domain of the program they are controlling.

I detect one thing that will completely spoil any good that may become of this. Two words: average users. If you can't get them to use malware scanners and if you can't convince them that opening binaries found in emails sent by random strangers is a terrible idea, best of luck explaining how to morph a keyboard to fit the program domain.

Idiots have killed many more worthy ideas. Here, "idiot" means someone who is literate yet refuses to RTFM.

Fingerworks

[MacFury]

This looks like an evolution of what FingerWorks was building before being purchased by Apple. Fingerworks multitouch technology led to the iPhone, macbook multitouch trackpad, etc. Their Frogpad product: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qg8IB64yu8

Give me a track point (and git offa ma lorn)

[jonaskoelker]

This seems really neat and all. However...

I have experience with two laptops. One had a touchpad, the other had both a touchpad and a trackpoint.

When I only had a touch pad, I carried around an external mouse (well, trackball; Logitech Marble Mouse to be exact)---and I dreaded the times where I'd forget to bring it along and have to use the touch pad. With my current laptop which has a track point, I don't even think about whether I should bring along an external mouse---the track point works great and it's more convenient to not have to plug anything in. [and with edge scrolling and infinitely wide edges, the touchpad now works as a "scroll pad".]

Granted, it the touchpad-only laptop was el cheapo and perhaps the touch pad wasn't the greatest. But still---track points are really great input devices (at least the one I have), and they're small enough to fit on practically speaking anything.

So why bother with turning your keyboard into a touchpad? I imagine the user might trace a vertical line, intending to move the mouse around, but the device going "oh, r-f-v-space, what an interesting key combo." Or the user pawing and poking the keys somewhat less than straight, and the device not picking up on it. It seems... with my experience of touchpads, this seems like it could be dangerously full of fail and meh.

(my $cents = 2)

Re:Interesting

[viking099]

HTPC input device would be something I would like.

I don't like trackballs, and keeping a big keyboard floating around the living room sucks.

It's not like you need a keyboard for 90% of the time you're using an HTPC, but that 10% is usually sort of critical, and using an on screen keyboard is barely above an exercise in futility.

So if it goes up for ~$80, I might buy it just to get rid of the keyboard and mouse setup I have in my living room.

Re:Interesting

[cromar]

A wireless version would make an awesome home theater control device - especially if it could be programmed to morph to match the service you're using at the moment. It would be neat to have it change automatically from a video remote, to a game pad, to audio control w/ EQ, to keyboard for email and social media, to slider for lighting control, etc.

Bah

[sleekware]

This device is pathetic compared to the Model M. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_M)

Re:Bah

[EdZ]

Don't worry, they make a version for model-M users. It's a three foot wide block of cast pig-iron, and the keys are illuminated with nixie tubes. It can deflect a .50 round without missing a keystroke.

Re:Bah

[Arthur Grumbine]

Chuck Norris famously used a Model M to end the U.S. Civil War.

Re:Interesting

[ircmaxell]

I think it would be even more useful if it offered an LCD (OLED perhaps?) screen instead of "just" a keyboard (Although it would negatively effect battery life). Then imagine the possibilities. You could configure it as a keyboard, as a "mouse", or even as a dedicated input panel (think something analogous to a Point Of Sale keyboard, where you can use icons instead of just "keys"). I would personally be able to find uses on a desktop, laptop and a cellphone (Although I don't think I'd carry around a second input device for my cellphone)...

So if you're in presentation mode (Paired with PowerPoint or OpenOffice Impress), it could switch to having 5 or 6 buttons (Prev Slide, Next Slide, Exit, etc) instead of --just-- using mouse gestures or keyboard interaction.

Touch Feedback?

[Drethon]

Maybe its just me but I have a hard time with typing with no feedback. I like feeling where I'm at on a keyboard...

Re:Touch Feedback?

[Neoprofin]

Agreed, I hate trying to convince myself that my friends iPhone can figure out which keys I meant to hit, especially the times when it has to wait until the end of the word to fix something. It takes typing from something that I can do by second nature on a couple of different keyboard layouts to something an exercise in trust and patience.