Emperatour
25-05-07, 13:00
کیبورد لیزری رو ببینید حال کنید
i.Tech Bluetooth Virtual Keyboard – play with laser
Standard kit:
Keyboard
Case
Charger
Manual
Software
The problem of data input into handheld computers and smartphones was revealed since their appearance. They were convenient to view downloaded info, but it was complicated to enter large data. The problem was hardly solved with the virtual keyboard on the touchscreen and the built-in QWERTY-keyboard, as the input speed was much slower than the combination of the full-size keyboard and the touch method with ten fingers. The manufacturers try several ways to accelerate text input – manuscript input, voice recognition, external input devices. Only one method works steadily – text input from the plugged external keyboard. Manuscript recognition is developing, though the process is far from being completed. As for the voice recognition, it is still in the egg.
Well, let’s imagine our device (a PDA or a communicator – doesn’t matter) lacks a built-in keyboard (or the existing keyboard isn’t good), so we decided to buy an external keyboard. There are several ways to plug the keyboard. Let’s list them:
Plug the keyboard via the synchronization connector. Minuses: keyboards are incompatible with the devices by other makers; many models do not have such keyboard.
Plug the standard USB-keyboard. The major plus: great variety of USB-keyboards that are cheap enough. Minuses: few devices with the USB-host; the cable is required.
Infrared keyboards. Pluses: an average price, good compatibility with different models. Minuses: devices should be within direct visibility; the problem here is that different PDAs have IrDA located sometimes at unexpected places.
Bluetooth-keyboards. The most promising and universal way of connection. Almost all modern PDAs and smartphones (with little exception) are equipped with the Bluetooth adapter. The connection doesn’t need the devices to be within direct visibility, as the process is wireless. No drivers are required (in theory with the duplex support of HID profile). Minuses: such keyboards are expensive (about $100); there are problems with the software.
The keyboard we review today nominally belongs to the last kind. However it has little to do with the problem of text input, it has other destination. We’ll try to prove this thesis in our review.
Only the registered members can see the link
The history of the virtual keyboard in rooted in 2000 with the foundation of the Israeli company VKB Inc. (now the company is located in the US). Together with Siemens it had been working on the new technology for two years. The companies unveiled their technology in 2002 at the CeBIT 2002 show. To say it was a furor, it’s not enough. There were plenty of publications in most prestigious magazines and newspapers, real interest of the public didn’t lose the strength during a year after the first public demonstration (I remember I was greatly impressed by the video of the working keyboard then). Some people even said such keyboards would remain in the future. Any company can only dream about such attention. However time passed by, but the keyboard hadn’t appeared in shops. A year after at CeBIT 2003 there was introduced a proto of Siemens SX1 with projected laser keyboard built in the top part.
Alas, we haven’t seen this modification of Siemens SX1 in shops and had to wait for the keyboard much longer. The interest faded away gradually, many got disappointed in it believing it would never come out. Eventually it appeared, not as a built-in function of some device, but as a separate keyboard. VKB Inc. signed a contract with i.Tech Dynamics Limited, the latter started production and distribution of a virtual keyboard under its mark. Official start of sales of the Bluetooth-keyboard falls on December 2004.
Technology
Let’s try to explain with clear words how the keyboard works. The QWERTY-keyboard image is projected with laser to a flat surface, Projection Module is involved. However the Module doesn’t take part in recognition of key strokes, you can switch it off and draw the keyboard on paper, for example.
Only the registered members can see the link
Micro-illumination Module recognizes key strokes. It creates invisible infrared field up 2 mm from the surface. When the user touches a virtual key, the infrared ray gets reflected and the sensor catches this signal.
Only the registered members can see the link
i.Tech Bluetooth Virtual Keyboard – play with laser
Standard kit:
Keyboard
Case
Charger
Manual
Software
The problem of data input into handheld computers and smartphones was revealed since their appearance. They were convenient to view downloaded info, but it was complicated to enter large data. The problem was hardly solved with the virtual keyboard on the touchscreen and the built-in QWERTY-keyboard, as the input speed was much slower than the combination of the full-size keyboard and the touch method with ten fingers. The manufacturers try several ways to accelerate text input – manuscript input, voice recognition, external input devices. Only one method works steadily – text input from the plugged external keyboard. Manuscript recognition is developing, though the process is far from being completed. As for the voice recognition, it is still in the egg.
Well, let’s imagine our device (a PDA or a communicator – doesn’t matter) lacks a built-in keyboard (or the existing keyboard isn’t good), so we decided to buy an external keyboard. There are several ways to plug the keyboard. Let’s list them:
Plug the keyboard via the synchronization connector. Minuses: keyboards are incompatible with the devices by other makers; many models do not have such keyboard.
Plug the standard USB-keyboard. The major plus: great variety of USB-keyboards that are cheap enough. Minuses: few devices with the USB-host; the cable is required.
Infrared keyboards. Pluses: an average price, good compatibility with different models. Minuses: devices should be within direct visibility; the problem here is that different PDAs have IrDA located sometimes at unexpected places.
Bluetooth-keyboards. The most promising and universal way of connection. Almost all modern PDAs and smartphones (with little exception) are equipped with the Bluetooth adapter. The connection doesn’t need the devices to be within direct visibility, as the process is wireless. No drivers are required (in theory with the duplex support of HID profile). Minuses: such keyboards are expensive (about $100); there are problems with the software.
The keyboard we review today nominally belongs to the last kind. However it has little to do with the problem of text input, it has other destination. We’ll try to prove this thesis in our review.
Only the registered members can see the link
The history of the virtual keyboard in rooted in 2000 with the foundation of the Israeli company VKB Inc. (now the company is located in the US). Together with Siemens it had been working on the new technology for two years. The companies unveiled their technology in 2002 at the CeBIT 2002 show. To say it was a furor, it’s not enough. There were plenty of publications in most prestigious magazines and newspapers, real interest of the public didn’t lose the strength during a year after the first public demonstration (I remember I was greatly impressed by the video of the working keyboard then). Some people even said such keyboards would remain in the future. Any company can only dream about such attention. However time passed by, but the keyboard hadn’t appeared in shops. A year after at CeBIT 2003 there was introduced a proto of Siemens SX1 with projected laser keyboard built in the top part.
Alas, we haven’t seen this modification of Siemens SX1 in shops and had to wait for the keyboard much longer. The interest faded away gradually, many got disappointed in it believing it would never come out. Eventually it appeared, not as a built-in function of some device, but as a separate keyboard. VKB Inc. signed a contract with i.Tech Dynamics Limited, the latter started production and distribution of a virtual keyboard under its mark. Official start of sales of the Bluetooth-keyboard falls on December 2004.
Technology
Let’s try to explain with clear words how the keyboard works. The QWERTY-keyboard image is projected with laser to a flat surface, Projection Module is involved. However the Module doesn’t take part in recognition of key strokes, you can switch it off and draw the keyboard on paper, for example.
Only the registered members can see the link
Micro-illumination Module recognizes key strokes. It creates invisible infrared field up 2 mm from the surface. When the user touches a virtual key, the infrared ray gets reflected and the sensor catches this signal.
Only the registered members can see the link