Virtual Keyboard Could Revolutionize Text Input

Posted By: Ed Wednesday, March 20, 2002 4:22:41 PM

Possible Application VKB Ltd. has developed a method for projecting an optical image of a keyboard onto a surface then detecting whether someone is typing. The virtual keyboard can also include a touchpad or a virtual mouse.

The company intends to licence its technology to manufacturers who will create salable products, not create them itself. At this stage, the company isn't releasing any information on who it is in negotiations with.

Possible Application Of course, the technology requires the handheld to be sitting on a fairly flat surface, which somewhat limits its applications. However, several Palm OS keyboards also have this same requirement, including the popular Think Outside Stowaway.

According to VKB, it has resolved all the technological hurdles required to make a practical virtual interface, including minimizing the power consumption and component size. The virtual keyboard supposedly offers high accuracy and ease of use. 

It is being demonstrated this week by Siemens Procurement Logistics Services at CeBIT.

The company did not respond to questions in time for this article.

Thanks to the many people who sent me info on this. I've been trying to get in touch with VKB for several days with no luck. Maybe they are all at CeBit. -Ed

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VERY cool, but...

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/20/2002 4:52:52 PM #
my only complaint so far would be that there, obviously, is no tactile feedback. Maybe if the Palm would "click" on each keypress it might be better.

Aside from that, this has a HUGE "cool factor"!!!!!

RE: VERY cool, but...
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/20/2002 5:31:45 PM #
If you look at the screen while you type, you can see what you've typed and you won't really need any tactile response.

(Now I'm wondering how many "hunt and peck"ers are on here.)

RE: VERY cool, but...
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/20/2002 6:19:32 PM #
I resent being called a pecker.

And tactile feedback is quite important...

RE: VERY cool, but...
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/20/2002 8:08:35 PM #
For touch typing, you rarely look at your keyboard.

RE: VERY cool, but...
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/20/2002 8:09:32 PM #
For touch typing, one don't look at the keyboard very much.

RE: VERY cool, but...
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/20/2002 8:25:22 PM #
Virtual tactile feedback requires an implant.
Next release.

RE: VERY cool, but...
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/20/2002 11:02:29 PM #
>Virtual tactile feedback requires an implant.
Next release.

LOL! I'm a cyberpunk and I salute you greatly. Definitely among the best posts I've read so far.

RE: VERY cool, but...
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/21/2002 11:25:58 AM #
While "tactile" feedback doesn't appear possible with a truly virtual keyboard, you could get audio feedback.

How about tones that would vary depending on which row of the keyboard you were pressing, and perhaps a set of tones that would let you know your index fingers were on the right spot?

Also since the keyboard is software controlled, you should be given the ability to customize the keyboard...set up function keys all over the place...reorganize the ctrl & alt keys...switch from qwerty to dvorak...etc.

RE: VERY cool, but...
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/27/2002 12:21:36 PM #
For the love of god, why is clicking necessary?

RE: VERY cool, but...
thinkaboutit @ 4/20/2002 5:20:00 PM #
There is another cool input device that needs to be mentioned. Check out www.lightglove.com. It's not a real glove and can perform as a virtual on/off switch for the electronics around you. Next generation is a wrist worn gaming controller. extra cool....

think it through

Graffiti replacement!

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/20/2002 4:59:09 PM #
If Palm could build this into the device, you would have a great graffiti replacement.

Xerox who?

RE: Graffiti replacement!
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/20/2002 5:31:11 PM #
But only when a flat surface is available.

RE: Graffiti replacement!
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/21/2002 12:54:09 AM #
i'm sure in time.. they would be able to eliminate the flat surface handicap...

Bluetooth solves this problem!

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/20/2002 5:01:38 PM #
A virtual keyboard may be hard to see in certain lighting conditions and as the above comment said, how do you know once a letter has been "recieved" by the pda.

I think Bluetooth enabled keyboards will kill this idea. Think of all the advantages of a bluetooth keyboard. No line-of-sight necessary with the pda, the pda can be anywhere within 30 feet and the keyboard can be placed anywhere such as on a lap, on a desk at school, anywhere.

I really think this will be one of the best uses of bluetooth. Any opinions on my thoughts are welcome.

RE: Bluetooth solves this problem!
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/20/2002 5:12:19 PM #
Why would you want to type into your PDA when it is 30 feet away? You couldn't even see it.

And how could you see the PDA screen if you didn't have a direct line of sight to it?

Maybe a BT KB isn't all that.

RE: Bluetooth solves this problem!
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/20/2002 5:28:48 PM #
Moreover, another advantage this has over a Stowaway type of keyboard is that you may not have to carry anything, judging by the image that suggests the keyboard projector/receiver is built in.


RE: Bluetooth solves this problem!
msmasitti @ 3/20/2002 5:44:52 PM #
2nd Post: It was just a comparison. It is quite obvious you won't be 30 feet away. But it is the idea that there would be no cabling at all.

------------------------
Mario
CLIE Moderator
http://www.geocities.com/msmasitti
RE: Bluetooth solves this problem!
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/20/2002 6:44:01 PM #
Posted by: I.M. Anonymous @ 3/20/2002 5:28:48 PM

Moreover, another advantage this has over a Stowaway type of keyboard is that you may not have to carry anything, judging by the image that suggests the keyboard projector/receiver is built in.


What? You may not have to carry anything? What about the projector itself?

This cannot replace the stowaway at all.

RE: Bluetooth solves this problem!
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/20/2002 7:10:37 PM #
I agree. The main advantage here is that you don't have to carry an additional piece of hardware if the projector is built into the PDA.

Once they get over the flat surface hurdle, it may even be possible to hold the PDA in your hand and project a "half keyboard" or some other form of input on your forearm.

RE: Bluetooth solves this problem!
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/21/2002 12:05:58 PM #
>I agree. The main advantage here is that you don't have to carry an additional piece of hardware if the projector is built into the PDA.


The picture doesn't show the projector built into the PDA and i dont think anyone is suggesting it be built into one (or that such a device is under development - though you never know). This wouldnt really make sense because it would limit yr ability to position the PDA for maximum viewability while typing.

RE: Bluetooth solves this problem!
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/21/2002 1:04:22 PM #
There are other pictures at the company's website that show the keyboard being projected directly from the PDA.

RE: Bluetooth solves this problem!
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/21/2002 3:15:44 PM #
Not to mention the second of the two pictures in the story.

RE: Bluetooth solves this problem!
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/26/2002 7:59:23 PM #
yes!!!! this realy is tha bomb.
And it is the best for mobile using think about traveling without a LAPTOP!!!! wow no heavy stuff anymore!

Shadows...

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/20/2002 5:05:49 PM #
This sounds neat, but aren't shadows from your fingers going to be an issue? Does the projector also play some role in detecting where your fingers are? If no, then I guess you could probably just slap a sheet of paper down with the keyboard printed on it if you wanted to.

RE: Shadows...
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/20/2002 5:21:17 PM #
> Does the projector also play some role in detecting where your fingers are?

Yes. It both projects an image of the keyboard and detects where your fingers are.

RE: Shadows...
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/20/2002 9:41:42 PM #
You missed my point, I was trying to figure out if the light that is projected plays a role in the detection.

RE: Shadows...
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/21/2002 6:29:22 AM #
most probably not....IMO more for the user to know which location to touch so that that the photodetector knows which key was "pressed" by reflection on the fingers and distance from the detector...or something...

Cool .....

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/20/2002 5:16:55 PM #
Cool, what's next air guitar for real !!!!

RE: Cool .....
maven @ 3/20/2002 9:47:11 PM #
Actually, they have it :) I played an "air guitar" at a technology museum recently.

Hoping for 'safe' demonstrations

jjsoh @ 3/20/2002 5:37:00 PM #
: It is being demonstrated this week by Siemens
: Procurement Logistics Services at CeBIT.

Hopefully, they won't demonstrate what's in the above pic. Is it just me or does anyone else find it a bit unnerving to see an image of a driver playing around with his Palm/Virtual Keyboard while driving in the MIDDLE of the double yellow lines, when he should be on the right (or left depending on which country you're from)?

I know it's only for illustrative purposes, but you would think the marketing department would at least try not to display potentially hazardous scenarios.

Jim

RE: Hoping for 'safe' demonstrations
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/20/2002 5:39:40 PM #
Good point!! I thought the same thing. Maybe the other part of the picture is this person's right hand holding a cell phone, wearing a virtual display headset.

I really think this could be a great application for desktop computers as well.

I could see someone who didn't want to give up the desk space getting a flat screen monitor and using a virtual keyboard and mouse.

For the not heavy computer user, or in high traffic areas (like a kitchen), this could be a great solution.


RE: Hoping for 'safe' demonstrations
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/20/2002 6:20:32 PM #
"Professional driver, closed course". And why are you assuming the car is moving?

OK, enough about the picture. Let's talk about the keyboard. I checked the website and they also say this would be good for sterile labs. I can see keyboards being a problem there.

RE: Hoping for 'safe' demonstrations
PR @ 3/20/2002 6:32:56 PM #
even if the car's not moving, i don't know if i would be parking in the middle of the road to do my typing:)

You need to look CLOSER!
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/20/2002 6:52:29 PM #
You guys need to look closer at the PDA screen in the picture to see that the Palm setup is actually probably saving his life:

"Dear Hospital: I'm typing this onto my wireless email enabled Palm V via a virtual keyboard while driving down this rural 2 lane highway. I'm certain that I will soon be involved in a horrible head-on collision. Please send an ambulance and, if possible, a helicopter to the GPS coordinates at the end of this transmission. - A soon-to-be customer"

RE: Hoping for 'safe' demonstrations
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/20/2002 9:42:11 PM #
Now that is hilarious!!!!!

no, YOU look closer!
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/21/2002 6:59:10 AM #
it's an m500

RE: Hoping for 'safe' demonstrations
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/21/2002 8:37:55 AM #
I'd be amazed with the projector technology if the driver could even see the keyboard on a sunny day. May be it should be projected into his lap (or his passengers lap!) may be even more distracting.

Projected Display

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/20/2002 5:38:53 PM #
A 19" Projected Virtual Projected Display Hologram Screen would be nice.

how about a display!
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/20/2002 5:49:48 PM #
i can think of using this technology to drive a display with tapping on the service to activate a button or other widgets. you can also have a folding surface that you can roll-up when not in use. that would be cool.

RE: Projected Display
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/20/2002 6:15:25 PM #
Check out this virtual display. Not practical yet but it has some possibilities.
www.palminfocenter.com/view_Story.asp?ID=2994



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