Too Cool! A Virtual Keyboard!

by , 8:00 AM EST, March 27th, 2002

This definitely falls into the 'Absolute Cool' category; one of the items on display at this year's CeBITs Technology Trade Fair in Hanover Germany is a device which displays a virtual keyboard and mouse pad on any surface. The user then taps on the keyboard as if he would a normal one and the the device translate his virtual tapping into typed text. The same interaction happens if the mouse pad is used. This from the caption under the photo of the device:

A full-size fully functional virtual keyboard that can be projected and touched on any surface is shown by Siemens Procurement Logistics Services at the CeBIT fair in Hanover, northern Germany, on Monday, March 18, 2002. The virtual interface from Developer VKB Inc. from Jerusalem in Israel can be integrated in mobile phones, laptops, tablet PCs, or clean, sterile and medical environments and could be a revolution for the data entry of any mini computer. The mini projector that detects user interaction with the surface also simulates a mousepad. The biggest computer fair of the world is open for public until Wednesday, March 20, 2002.

Check out the device at Yahoo (you need to see it to turly understand it).

The Mac Observer Spin:

We've seen slick. We've seen smart. We've even seen smartly slick, but this little doo-hicky is way slicker than anything we've seen to date for input devices. The possiblities are endless. Imagine coupling this device with a touch induction device, which induces feeling without actually touching anything. Completely virtual keyboard that actually feels real.

Now add that to one of those newfangled LEP displays (a display that is printed on paper and can be rolled up for storage)...

Where do we sign up to get on the waiting list?

Virtual Keyboard