Comments on: Virtual Keyboard Could Revolutionize Text Input

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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"

There could be more to that. Signing, like for the deaf, could be implemented in this, and would make a radically fast typing method... steep learning curve though.

For once in your life stop thinking that everyone is like you!

I for one would love to have this type of keyboard. The possibilities are endless. I could easily get used to forgetting the tactile feedback.After all, we got used to grafiti, people are getting used to thumb-pads or thumb-boards, some laptops have keyboards that have very little tactile feedback, even for homr PC's there are plenty of different 'flavors' of keyboards available AND THEY ARE BEING SOLD!!!

Imagine sitting on a plane besides someone with a keyboard that makes noise while you are trying to sleep! How much would you love for him/her to have a keyboard that is QUIET.

This is technology, if you don't like it, don't read or make comments that it will never catch one and don't ever consider about buying it. Do you really care what people think when you say that it doesn't catch on (or will not)?

Personally, I think thumbboards are useless (FOR ME) but do I think they do not catch on ? Fat chance. PDA's at $500 ? Who said an electronic device to keep your phone book at $500 would never catch on when the PDA's first came out? PLENTY of people.

Bluetooth: Lots of people are saying (or have been saying) the same thing: that it will not catch on. I for one think it will not be beneficial for me, but I could imagine plenty of people finding a good use for it.

My point is: Let technology thrive and for a change, don't be so damn negative all the time when something isn't developed that just suits you!

hehe, well, if you think about it, this will likely NOT happen. Have you tapped on a table top long enough while making a loud enough sound that could get annoying ? That actually can start hurting your fingers if you have to tap loud enough. Unless of course you have long fingernails, now that is another story...

I really think the way one would type with this device would change over time since 1) no more sounds are heard anyway and 2) it hurts the fingers if tapped too hard, LOL.

In all seriousness, try tapping for a while on a table-top, doing some imaginary typing. I really think this is a great idea and I for one would be in the market for it.

At the same time, I can understand if some people just couldn't work with it properly, or better said: adjust to the change. This seems to be problem much wider spread than just this keyboard issue ;)

The game was horrible. The sensors didn't respond properly to my movements, and I found that I had to GREATLY exaggerate every move I made so that it registered properly.

I get the feeling that this virtual keyboard will probably be the same way. You'll really have to make sure that your fingers move high up before coming back down to strike the surface, otherwise your movements may be too subtle.

Without a real physical sensor, the technology is probably still to far behind.

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If you sing in french while hopping on one foot, the evil birds won't come out of your bathroom mirror.