- This is my first topic in the Portable Devices category.


Virtual Keyboards are close to be available on the market.

Israeli based VKB Inc. shows off their Virtual Keyboard at the CES in Las Vegas last week. The unit is available as stand-alone or integrated like the one in the photo.
iBIZ Technology is distributing and marketing the Virtual Keyboard in the United States.
The Virtual Laser Keyboard leverages the power of laser and infrared technology and projects a full-size keyboard onto any flat surface, as the user types on that projection; it realizes what you're typing by the coordinates of that location. Unlike many small snap-on keyboards for PDAs, the Virtual Laser Keyboard provides a full-size QWERTY keyboard. Not to mention looks bloody cool using it.

The Virtual Laser Keyboard is compatible with Palm, Pocket PCs, laptops and desktop PCs. The keyboard employs a USB/serial cable connection to communicate with the PDA or PC.
An upcoming version for cell phones will be available in 4th quarter 2004. The Virtual Laser Keyboard will be available for $99.99 from major retailers, e-commerce sites, and iBIZ Technology's own e-commerce site. The site states that the Virtual Keyboard will ship early February.


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Source: I4U News

I would have sworn I read about this a year ago.

I was thinking the exact same thing as I was reading through the article. I was thinking it sounded awfully familiar and that I had read about it quite some time back as well.

ya i remember this about a year ago too it just never seemed to take off i think they main focus was for PDA of course so when writing a letter you dont have to type it on a phone like keypad. Its interesting but seems like it may take a while to perfect i dont see how this would work in a very light room or outdoors in the sun?? how would you see the keyboard?

An unanswerable question, actz... good point.

I'd think that your fingers would maybe hide other fingers, especially like hitting the space bar or somethin. gotta be somethin cool goin on heh. Maybe they'll have another unit that sits to the side so it can determine depth better, who knows.

ya for example i never look at my fingers when i type but the main way i always find whats going on with my fingers is by the little edges on both F key and J ... typing in mid air will be so confusing and weird all over