Cirque Demos Pocket Keyboard for Palm and Visor

Posted By: Ed Friday, January 5, 2001 10:40:57 AM

Cirque Corporation, a provider of alternative input products, today unveiled the Pocket Keyboard, a mini-keyboard for Palm and Handspring palmtop computers, based on Cirque's award-winning GlidePoint technology. It is 3.5-inch by 2.625-inch touch panel that connects to the serial port and allows users to type information using a finger rather than a stylus.

The Pocket Keyboard is scheduled to begin shipping early in the second quarter of 2001 for about $40.

Update: A photo is now available.

The surface of the Pocket Keyboard provides a basic QWERTY format and includes arrow, number, shift, enter, tab, caps, control and symbol keys. The keys are roughly the same size as the tip of a finger and the overlay is embossed in a grid pattern to help users locate the keys. The embossed surface of the keyboard, combined with user-selectable audible feedback, gives users a tactile sensation. Because the keyboard is based on GlidePoint technology, the Pocket Keyboard instantly recognizes the centermost point of pressure and inputs the character for the corresponding key, allowing accurate input with both large and small fingers.

It will work with the m100, and Palm III, V, and VII series, as well as all Visors. It also supports the original Pilot 1000 and 5000 series from Palm. It comes with a set of interface adapters for the various PDAs. These permit the product to be packaged as one SKU while accommodating multiple versions of PDAs.

It runs on two CR2032 lithium coin batteries. According to Cirque, the battery life of the Pocket Keyboard should outlive the life of the batteries used in many PDAs and are inexpensive, readily available, and easy to replace. A quick search on the Web found that CR2032 batteries cost about $2.50.

Permalink |

Article Comments

(14 comments)

The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. PalmInfocenter is not responsible for them in any way.
Please Login or register here to add your comments.

Comments Closed
This article is no longer accepting new comments.

picture

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/5/2001 2:52:02 PM #

check out http://www.cirque.com/new/pocket_keyboard.htm

RE: picture

Ed @ 1/5/2001 4:54:50 PM #

Yeah, Cirque updated their website! Getting in touch with their PR people turned out to be almost impossible because they are all in Las Vegas. Anyway, thanks.

---
Plenipotentiary
Palm Infocenter

A New Hope

Ed @ 1/6/2001 9:28:46 AM #

I have a great deal of hope for this keyboard. I've been wanting one that is small and fairly cheap. The GoType is inexpensive but a bit large, while the Stowaway is small but fairly expensive.

---
Plenipotentiary
Palm Infocenter

RE: A New Hope

Nate @ 1/7/2001 4:32:46 PM #

But the stowaway is awesome, and well worth the price.

aaaaaahhhhhhh!!!

scaught @ 1/7/2001 11:56:43 PM #

this looks like another membraney keyboardy type things (like that cloth thing that was up here a month or 2 back that i said reminded me of an atari 400 -shudders-). and while ive tried out cirque mousepad things and think theyre a great product, a keyboard without any travel in the keys is a bad idea i think. i guess i shouldnt be so hasty to judge before giving it a try but it just doesnt seem like a good idea. like keyboards dont contribute to carpal tunnels syndrome efficiently enough already that they have to make the keys without travel so that you push too hard when trying to type. ugh.

RE: aaaaaahhhhhhh!!!

Ed @ 1/8/2001 12:22:04 PM #

These are good points but still, 3.5 inches by 2.5 inches sounds pretty appealing to me. That's actually smaller than the palm of my hand.

There is one area I'm concerned about; Does the serial port and handheld holder that sticks out of the top fold up or something? If not, they are going to break off way too easily. Not to mention take up a bunch of unnecessary room in my luggage.

---
Plenipotentiary
Palm Infocenter

RE: aaaaaahhhhhhh!!!

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/10/2001 4:21:02 PM #

The Pocket Keyboard is prepackaged with a set of interface adapters for the various Palm or
Handspring PDA's. Therefore the adapter can be removed from the keyboard when not in
use. Therefore the risk of breakage and damage is minimized when stowed for travel.

Keybored?

Lito Simpao @ 1/8/2001 9:05:14 PM #

The palm's beauty lies in it not having a keyboard! If you really need one then get a laptop instead! but "a fool and his money are soon parted!"

RE: Keybored?

Ed @ 1/9/2001 2:23:23 PM #

By this point in your life you should have realized that everyone with different opinions and needs from yours isn't, by definition, a fool.

---
Plenipotentiary
Palm Infocenter

I think it's more like a Pager keyboard

alex_mathews @ 1/10/2001 3:17:24 PM #

I think this could be used more like the two-way pager keyboards on the Blackberry and the Motorola pagers. Of course this is assuming that the holder is strong enough to do this. Though it looks like the holder is shaped to be placed on a flat surface. Guess I have to wait for it to come out to really have a good opinion of it.

RE: I think it's more like a Pager keyboard

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/11/2001 10:50:48 AM #

It is designed to be used on a flat surface or to be held in the hand.

[ No Subject ]

james @ 1/29/2001 5:10:45 AM #

ohfish cradle is nice. i am posting this comment online.

M505 oddity

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/12/2001 1:09:55 PM #

This article does not state if the unit will work with the M500 series, but this article does:

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010611/lam033.html

Which is correct?

RE: M505 oddity

Ed @ 6/12/2001 1:41:31 PM #

If you take a look at Cirque's page on this keyboard, it doesn't list the m500 on its compatibility list.
http://www.cirque.com/products/pocket_keyboard.shtml

Nevertheless, as you pointed out, the m500 is listed on the press release.

---
News Editor
Palm Infocenter