Laser Keyboard Shows Up In a Cell Phone - Is a Pocket PC Next?

[Pat Logsdon]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.gizmodo.com/archives/siemens_sx1_with_virtual_keyboard.php' target='_blank'>http://www.gizmodo.com/archives/sie...al_keyboard.php</a><br /><br /></div>A variation of the <a href="http://www.siemens-mobile.com/repository/212/21297/SX1_front_medium.jpg">Siemens SX1</a> has the honor of sporting the first built-in <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=24948&amp;start=0">virtual laser keyboard</a>. It looks like they took a normal SX1 and bolted the laser unit on top. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/logsdon_20040318_cylon.jpg"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/logsdon_20040318_laserphone.jpg" /> </a><br /><br />Gizmodo reports that "when activated, a QWERTY keyboard is drawn by laser in front of the phone. Type as you would on a normal keyboard and the device figures out where your fingers are and what letters they correspond to."<br /><br />I can just see myself getting carpal finger syndrome with one of these. :mrgreen: <br /><br />What do you think? Would you like to see something like this in your next Pocket PC?

[hrianto]

This is what I call progress. :rock on dude!:

[plemax]

WOW! Matrix 2 or 3. remember that episode when operator open gate to underground city she used same type of keybard for it. :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

[omikron.sk]

I finally want some, when they will be available for PPC!

[luiskim]

i can see myself mistyping already... not a good typer... i'm just too use to reposing my fingers on the keyboard itself... :)

[Godsongz]

A good typist would probably hate this thing. Touch-typing just can't happen, no tactile feedback, one fingertip on one letter at one time only or the laser will get confused. This keyboard is actually much more suited to hunt & peck typists.

Yeah, I guess I'd like to see it in a PPC, as long as it doesn't add a lot of bulk. Perhaps in an easily removeable CF card?!? Now that would be great.

[rbrome]

I can just see myself getting carpal finger syndrome with one of these. :mrgreen:

Seriously... I've tried one of these, and I would say injury is a very real possibility. That's because (naturally) it's not a perfect technology, and when you start running into trouble, your natural instinct is type "harder", which on a hard surface, (as is recommended,) leads to sore fingers very quickly!

[Ryan Joseph]

Whoa! 8O Very sweet! I'd love to see this built into a PPC!

And the idea of it being in a removable card is even cooler.

Even if it's not the best keyboard, imagine having a full keyboard with you everywhere! Just plain cool.

[antondubina]

Sweet, but not very new. In fact, it was proposed a while ago -- as standalone thing. Don't think it's good idea to include in PPC. Yep, it is kewl -- but sucks because as previous posters said it has no tactile feedback. It is a must thing.

[scmidlap]

Cool. Click on the image for the developer's true identity 0X

[Zack Mahdavi]

It looks cool, but I can't see myself ever using one. I'm a touch typist, and I think typing quickly on a hard surface could easily cause wrist or finger pains. I'll stick with my stowaways for now.. :)

[enemy2k2]

I think the fear of injury using this is unfounded since it would not be possible to even attempt touch typing on this according to articles I've read on the technology. Apparently it can only handle 'hunt and peck' type typing movements, though I guess this would still allow for sore finger tips of at least the index fingers. I definitely wouldn't want to see this integrated into PPCs unless it added absolutely minimal size and cost. But an add on module like that shown would be pretty nifty and potentially handy - but no replacement for a real keyboard.

[Jonathan1]

Two things. The first is the ability to see this outdoors in sunlight. Obviously having something is better then nothing. The inherent problem with smartphones is that they suck rocks for data addition/manipulation. This could be a good stopgap until voice recognition becomes a reliable reality. Still as this tech becomes more refined you will probably see better versions of this that can handle outdoor light better. (e.g. Stronger, reder lasers with thicker characters displayed. The complaints about touch typing. LOL. Get over it. This wasn’t designed for a touch typist. It’s a duh moment that people get the fact that virtual keyboards will never have tactile feedback. They are virtual for a reason. No extra equipment to carry around. It was designed to be ultra mobile not ultra comfortable to enter info on. *shrugs* Personally I’d rather have the functionality before the confort since I don’t touch type and for those that do. Eh. Maybe Targus or Belkin will come out with a rollup keypad to place under the laser for those that aren’t comfortable with a hard surface.

The second issue that everyone always questions is how this affects battery life. It’s a legit concern at least from a PDA standpoint. On a phone you aren’t going to do any heavy work. IMHO the biggest thing this type of product would be used for is IMing and e-mail. There are users that use their Pocket PC for some light to medium amount of work. A device like this would be invaluable but only if it doesn’t hit the battery too hard. Since these devices really are on first or possible the second generation I’d be fearful that it may very well be a battery hog. *shrugs* Then again maybe not.

Beyond simply seeing the characters this is an interesting development. At some point will we have RGB lasers that can project a screen and keyboard image? Sure right now we have projectors but let’s be realistic. You’d never fit a projector in a Pocket PC or even a laptop without taking a MAJOR battery performance hit.

[Mbai2]

Cool. Click on the image for the developer's true identity 0X

Yea, I found that a little creepy. I have no idea what that is (maybe I'm not geeky enough to know). What is that thing?

[Pat Logsdon]

Cool. Click on the image for the developer's true identity 0X
Yea, I found that a little creepy. I have no idea what that is (maybe I'm not geeky enough to know). What is that thing?
I was wondering if anyone would catch that. It IS an extreme geek joke. The thing is a Cylon head from the TV show Battlestar Galactica (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005JM3C/104-0662840-0972701?v=glance). 0X

[jimski]

OK, but will it work in any surface? Will it work under any lighting condition? And I think I would rather see a few other things in my next PPC first, like; 256MB RAM, VGA screen and how about a hard drive.

[ctmagnus]

The thing is a Cylon head from the TV show Battlestar Galactica (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005JM3C/104-0662840-0972701?v=glance). 0X

I just found this (http://www.cs.ualberta.ca/~bmw/Noises/CYLON.WAV), completely by accident.

[orol]

check this out

http://www.mobilmania.cz/Bleskovky/AR.asp?ARI=106839

samsung shows it too with its palm os powered smartphones

not to metion sony had shown laser keyboard last year in japan with the new NX series ..

but I think "think outside" will made yet another keyboard for all of us :-)

[WindWalker]

Cool. Click on the image for the developer's true identity 0X
Yea, I found that a little creepy. I have no idea what that is (maybe I'm not geeky enough to know). What is that thing?
I was wondering if anyone would catch that. It IS an extreme geek joke. The thing is a Cylon head from the TV show Battlestar Galactica (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005JM3C/104-0662840-0972701?v=glance). 0X

BY YOUR COMMANNNND

[Rudolf]

Beyond simply seeing the characters this is an interesting development. At some point will we have RGB lasers that can project a screen and keyboard image? Sure right now we have projectors but let?s be realistic. You?d never fit a projector in a Pocket PC or even a laptop without taking a MAJOR battery performance hit.
Microvison is already doing this. Ie. projecting the screen *directly* to your retina. With the advent of blue lasers they have now full RGB color and very high resolution, not to mention that this technology requires MUCH less power than anything currently used (LCDs or even OLEDs) because there is no wasted energy. Whatever is pumped into the lasers will get to the destination (your reatina) resulting in a much power efficient operation than any LCD could ever reach...

[marbing]

Virtual laser Keyboard for PDAs (http://store.yahoo.com/ibizpda/vike.html)



I have one on order for my iPaq.