Laser virtual keyboard

LEDBE
Oldie but a goodie! That would be way too hard to get used to. No tactile keys, like that darn iPhone!
 
I must admit, I LOVE that LASER keyboard, in principle. Can't imagine, though, actually using it.

I have a physical bluetooth keyboard for my phone (Think Outside) and it works phenomenally well for when I do coding. Nothing like writing a web page, manually, while waiting at the dentist's office.

Seriously, it really is cool. Anyone know how bright it is? How does it work in normal, reasonably bright office/room lighting?

-- Chuck Knight
 
I field-tested a keyboard like that at the company I used to work for.
It's okay for use in a calm (no strong airflow), stable (desk) situation.
I found it didn't work well on a plane, train or automobile (sic) or outdoors. We specifically tried to use them under conditions we considered it would be useful to have a compact keyboard. Motion/vibration and to a less extent gusty airflow mess it up. Also, not that easy to use unless in dim lighting conditions (changing lighting conditions, with bright sun and shadow moving confused it as well).
 
How long ago was this and what was the application for the "laser keyboard'?

I also can imagine that the lack of tactile feedback as you just tap away on a flat table would be disconcerting, but it also has to be better than "thumbing" on some of the smaller devices.

I wonder if the newer one here on ThinkGeek that made a splash about 1.5 years ago incorporates any improvments over the one Size15's tested? The algoritihims the device uses as it "watches" for your fingers could be written to compensate for vibration.

I think the biggest thing is that the device went to market. Now projected user interfaces could be integrated into all sorts of devices. I can think of all sorts of places this would be handy to add better UI's to things that don't have a display function as thier primary purpose and a limited number of buttons, like a high end digita camera that could be set on a table, and allowed the user to access more complex settings, or an MP3 player that let you enter a more complex playlist editor etc.

If/when true direct inject blue diodes (not blue/violet like blu-ray) and direct inject greens become possible, highly portable projectors are possible too.
 
I actually saw that same keyboard a while ago on Pimp My Ride. They put a Sony Vaio in a girls car and put that in it.
 
I have purchased that same keyboard I think about 3-5 years ago... bluetooth was just coming out.
It is cool and novel, but it has a couple of problems - maybe they fixed that.
1st.. BATTERY it does not last very long, so forget typing for 5h in an airplane.
2nd accuracy...since you don't get feedback whether a letter has been pushed (mechanical) just a sound it's not as fluid. Also sometimes you have another finger in the way between where you are pushing and where the sensor is so it does not always record the stroke..which is a pain.
Summary: Its super geeky everyone thinks its cool, but not really a tool to replace your keyboard or to bring along with your phone.. a foldable keyboard is much better for that.
 
In about 10 years or so, I bet they replace regular keyboards. They are probably excellent when there isn't much to be typed. I bet they will easily replace buttons, then buttons won't be able to physically break. Less maintenance=faster developing.
 
I can't imagine trying to type by ramming my fingertips into a desk constantly. I agree that it looks super cool, sleek and geeky, but it just doesn't seem like the best way to transfer a typing motion from neurons to electrons.
 
badhorsey said:
You mean you've never seen a ZX Spectrum?
Click to expand...
Oooh - my first computer - it had a whole kilobyte of memory, but I upgraded it with the add-on pack that took it to 16K - you read that right 16kb. What would anyone need 16Kb for in a home computer? Umm, My grocery list maybe? Printed on that neat silver printer paper?

aah, the nostalgia [wipe tear from eye]
 
Oh, man...in grammar school, my best friend and I built a ZX-81. What wonderful memories...the thing never did work right with the case on it, but as a bare circuit board it was a phenomenal computer.

Loved the membrane keyboard, too. ;-) I'm getting misty.

-- Chuck Knight

P.S. Did I date myself? I'm in the US and built a ZX81...not a TS1000. Never got Sir Clive's Black watch, though.

Thanks for the memories...
 
Haha, I'll never forget my dad brought his first "Laptop" home from work. (He was a software engineer for 25 years) I was about 4 years old and I can remember it perfect. It was this huge thing about as thick as two briefcases and about 1.5 times as tall. It lasted about 30 minutes on battery and it was all green letters. It had an 32 kb hard drive. I used
 
Tried one in an airport shop not too long ago. Even the sales guy rolled his eyes about it and suggested waiting a bit until the technology improves some more.
 
Me too...tried one at the airport. I use a Think Outside bluetooth keyboard with my OQO, and it is soooooo much better than the laser keyboard. I just don't see any advantage really, the Think Outside is QUITE compact but provides minimum tradeoffs to a full size keyboard.
 
I really think it sucks.. and no mather how many years you wait you won't get a tactile feedback of a table surface... honestly any folding keyboard that takes up about the same space is many times better than this - and you don't need batteries. There is a very small market where something like this makes sense... clean room, medical but other than that.. It's cool to look at and very scifi... but that's it.
 
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