Micah Alpern's Projection Keyboards Page

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.alpern.org/weblog/stories/2003/01/09/projectionKeyboards.html' target='_blank'>http://www.alpern.org/weblog/storie...nKeyboards.html</a><br /><br /></div>Micah Alpern is a HCI (Human Computer Interaction) specialist, so he has a special interest in the new wave of projection keyboards coming from a few different vendors. If this new technology interests you as well, check his page out - it's the best resource I've seen on the topic yet!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/image001.jpg" /><br /><br />What do you think about this technology? It looks very interesting to me, but the basic problem of all current PDAs not including some sort of built-in stand seems the first roadblock to overcome. We'd need some sort of "kick-stand" before the PDA could stand up on it's own. It sounds like a small thing, but getting this technology into Pocket PCs will require the enthusiastic support of the major OEMs, and they're not exactly the fastest when it comes to including cutting-edge technology.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

From a technology standpoint, it's great that it does push the envelope... and this is more appealing to me than the senseboard that you wear on your hands.

From a practical (and personal) standpoint, you already mentioned the PDA kickstand, but the other factor is that it appears you'd need a flat surface to work with which means it has some of the same limitations that the legacy Stowaways have. In that case, I'm not sure I wouldn't just prefer the fold-out version with tactile feedback.

Interesting though that with this laser version, you don't have to worry about moving parts and the page mentioned that this could be ideal in areas where maintaining sanitary standards is vital.

You know what would be cool? I read that there was possibly a virtual mouse in the works... if this laser could project a mouse pad where you could just move your finger over a table to control a mouse cursor as well.

[Paragon]

Jason, I couldn't agree with you more. Sometimes the simplest little thing can be a large road block. I see a very simple solution to the "kickstand" problem. So, listen up HP, Dell, Toshiba, and the rest of you this is easy, very effective, and inexpensive. Put a removable flip lid on all PPCs that flips around and becomes a stand!!!

If there is one simple little roadblock that Palm learned it's importance very early it was having hard SLIM screen protection on all it's devices. PPCs can easily incorporate a flip lid/kickstand that is removable for those who don't want it.

Dave

[ECOslin]

Nope, I'd have to try it first. How does it do in an office environment with flourescent lighting. How quick is the response on the screen and what kind of speeds can someone reach using it.

I think that I'd rather have a rear-projected 800x600 screen, using the pda as the input device.

I can modify my Krusell flip-over case to make my Maestro stand up. Couple of snaps and a plastic square.


Edward

(PS. it stands up fine with the case without any mods.)

[Mike Temporale]

Seeing as the above link is against my clients Sex policy :roll: I'll just have to read the article later. Stupid Proxy server.

Anyway, I'm really interested in these projection technologies. If they could incorporate them into the headhelds so there is one less thing to carry... that would be great. I could live with the loss of that keyboard feel, or having to prop my PDA up against the side of my cubicle. It won't work everywhere, but neither do the existing keyboards.

[johncj]

I would think that the virtual keyboards themselves should provide the "kick stand". I think the more general problem is the need for flat surfaces. I wonder if any of them do a MS natural keyboard layout?

[jefito]

This is not of much interest to me. Sure it's whizzy and cool and all that, but for a keyboard to be effective to me, it needs a tactile element, which this is lacking. I am a slowish and somewhat erratic typist, and my hands tend to wander off the "home" position, and a physical keyboard helps to ground me. Maybe a touch typist would fare better, but I really can't see this making much of a dent in the input devices market.

[blade_of_narsil]

A basic premise of HCI is that of feedback, and it seems that this platform would offer you very little. Those of us that don't really look at the keyboard to type rely on our tactile senses and the feedback the keyboard gives when keys are pressed. It will be very interesting to see if this can deliever similar affordances to allow users the ability to type rapidly without looking at the keyboard. Otherwise you still have the same drawback of having to monitor your input visually, which slows you down. Though I would imagine it would still be faster since you can mechanically move you fingers much faster than using the pen with on-screen keyboards. I would love to try a system out, and besides they've gotta be the future since that what we see in movies and such. :)

[Fzara]

I can definitely see this work in a business environment, but not the consumer market just yet.

For the business environment, picture this: Touch typing on a plane, or at a business meeting where a laptop is just too big and heavy to lug around.

In the consumer market, something like this would be EXPENSIVE. In fact, too expensive for it to take off. Despite this new product, consumers still require better PIM's, however, this is definitely a jumpstart for the PDA market.

[HTK]

My geek side sure is curious about this technology
but the pratical side is not that much enthusiastic about it..
-you´ll need the flat surface ( maybe it will be limited to not-so-shiny surfaces ), the medical situation is cool to talk about, no germs involved ane etd, but I don´t see it happening much, at least sure not happening with me
-you can´t type looking at your pda to check errors, the lack of tactile sense will make you loose your position, its like to press a key on your keyboard with your eyes closed and having your hands way up .. without toutching it before the press... very hard to know where you are!
and 150$ is just too much for this, those plastic foldable kb´s cost half of this and they are much more expensive to make.. this is like when SD cards appeared.. the 32mb card costing like 100 bucks... Oportunism over geekness, I sick of this exploitations

[ux4484]

It's where thing are going (just look at all those Sci-fi channels promo's :wink: ).......aways down the line, but besides the kickstand the biggie will be getting folks used to the loss of tactile feedback. Why do Treo's and thumboards have buttons?......because most folks still want feed back (biggest gripe on the NX70's keyboard is lack of feedback) and a beep doesn't float most people's boats.

The main fault of this technology is by the time it's adequetly developed to a reliable/affordable point; other technologies will be too.....like voice recognition and eye trackers, which will very nearly reduce the need for it having rudundant functionality of this device.

It'll be the future graffiti/Char recognizer debate :roll:

[Janak Parekh]

Micah Alpern is a HCI (Human Computer Interaction) specialist, so he has a special interest in the new wave of projection keyboards coming from a few different vendors. If this new technology interests you as well, check his page out - it's the best resource I've seen on the topic yet!
No kidding. This is amazingly comprehensive research. If you're reading - nice job, Micah.

--janak

[Ed Hansberry]

Cool technology, but gimmicky. I can't stand some laptop keyboards for their lack of feedback. I couldn't imagine tapping on a wooden desktop. 8O

And given the size, there is no where this would work that my Stowaway wouldn't, and places that the Stowaway would that this wouldn't. Plus, the Stowaway keeps my Pocket PC upright and very close and includes a handy stylus holder in the upper right corner.

[RickP in AZ]

See, I'm in the other camp. I have found that lack of tactile feedback isn't all that important to me. From my experience with Typango and to a slightly lesser extent with Spb's Full Screen Keyboard, I can achieve some very respectable input speeds while still retaining accuracy.

I would need to have the projected keyboards though versus the "Senseboard" as I am not quite a touch typist and need visual reference to find keys.

Also I am more enthusiastic for the versions which will be directly integrated into the device (PDA or Tablet PC) and I would be wonderful not to have to carry yet another accessory.

I would love for the image projected onto the table top to be customizable, give me a blue light ergonomic keyboard design and I'd be as happy as a swine in wet dirt.

[Paragon]

I think maybe we are looking to hard for the "killer" keyboard. Instead of looking at what it does very well.....it offers portability. How much more portable can a keyboard be than being a few beams of light? It is meant for those of us who want to be able to easily carry our PDA AND accessories in our pocket (without breaking them. Sorry Jason couldn't resist. :-) ) To be able to easily deploy them as needed.

To be honest I see this as being very successful as a third option. First being whatever soft method we chose to use....soft keyboard, transcriber, etc. Secondly being portable "full sized type" keyboards that we see today, and this type to be used when it is necessary. Of course not everyone is going to choose all three. However I'm willing to bet this is going to be a very strong choice somewhere down the road.

my 2c

Dave

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

I have found that lack of tactile feedback isn't all that important to me. From my experience with Typango and to a slightly lesser extent with Spb's Full Screen Keyboard, I can achieve some very respectable input speeds while still retaining accuracy.

I would need to have the projected keyboards though versus the "Senseboard" as I am not quite a touch typist and need visual reference to find keys.
I think your second paragraph explains why the tactile feedback is not as important to you. For touch typists who don't rely on the sight of the keyboard at all, the tactile feedback (at least the ability to just feel the keys, especially the ridges on the F and J keys) is all we have to go on.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

In the consumer market, something like this would be EXPENSIVE. In fact, too expensive for it to take off.
Possibly true though according the webpage, one of the makers plans on introducing this at $150, predicting that it will go down to $100 after a couple of years (I'm sure that's assuming he gets market acceptance). If these devices take off, I'm not so sure they're that much more expensive to make than your typical keyboards; remember, there is little in the way of moving parts to build, the laser projector/sensor is the key piece.

[RickP in AZ]

I have found that lack of tactile feedback isn't all that important to me. From my experience with Typango and to a slightly lesser extent with Spb's Full Screen Keyboard, I can achieve some very respectable input speeds while still retaining accuracy.

I would need to have the projected keyboards though versus the "Senseboard" as I am not quite a touch typist and need visual reference to find keys.
I think your second paragraph explains why the tactile feedback is not as important to you. For touch typists who don't rely on the sight of the keyboard at all, the tactile feedback (at least the ability to just feel the keys, especially the ridges on the F and J keys) is all we have to go on.

Oh, I wholeheartedly agree. I would love to be a totally touchy-feely typist but it just ain't happening as much as I try. Maybe if I lay my desk out better so that I'm straight on with the keyboard... But I use the desktop's ergo keyboard, then switch to the laptop, then the iPAQ... It confuses my feeble little brain at times.

[Ed Hansberry]

I would need to have the projected keyboards though versus the "Senseboard" as I am not quite a touch typist and need visual reference to find keys.
That's the difference... I won't use a cheap keyboard that doesn't have the raised nubs on F and J, and also refuse to use those garbage keyboards that don't have the big fat double-sized BACKSPACE key and the 1.5X sized "\" key below it. IBM does one thing very very well - keyboards.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

I won't use a cheap keyboard that doesn't have the raised nubs on F and J
Is that what they're called, raised nubs???

I've been wandering around for years wondering what to call them...

[vincentsiaw]

i don't mind paying extra for this type of keyboard...

[ux4484]

Is that what they're called, raised nubs???

I've been wandering around for years wondering what to call them...

heh....I was told "home key locators" or "home key tabs"......I like "raised nubs" though myself.

Guess Ed will have to wait for 3D-solid holographic keyboards eh?

[Abba Zabba]

IMHO I feel that this will be a great additon to the PDA market. Remember that this technology is suppose to help increase the portability of a device. With the advent of new technology like this I think 2003 will be a real interesting to the portable computing community.

On the questions of tactile feedback, it would be cool to still keep that feature but like many ppl I can live without that for something this new. :D

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

IMHO I feel that this will be a great additon to the PDA market. Remember that this technology is suppose to help increase the portability of a device. With the advent of new technology like this I think 2003 will be a real interesting to the portable computing community.
While it may not be of practical use for many of us (we'll have to see), I do believe that it serves a purpose for some (the webpage listed some great examples of where this could be a big asset).