Has anyone seen one of these???

[TheDance511]

Okay, so I know someone around here has seen this...beautiful thing...:) This laser virtual keyboard? Does it really work? Is typing on it weird? Link: http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/input/8193

[Sigur]

Okay, so I know someone around here has seen this...beautiful thing...:) This laser virtual keyboard? Does it really work? Is typing on it weird? Link: http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/input/8193

Looks interesting. And it is portable!

[TuffLuffJimmy]

That thing is crazy old. I remember seeing that exact one maybe seven or eight years ago.

[Sigur]

That thing is crazy old. I remember seeing that exact one maybe seven or eight years ago.

So, how did it work?

[TuffLuffJimmy]

So, how did it work?

well it worked, it just had no physical feedback and was more of a toy than a real keyboard. I'd imagine it'd be next to impossible to type quickly on it.

[Jaffa Cake]

That thing is crazy old.The basic principle has been around a while. A client of ours a while back was developing a product that used a keyboard that was essentially what we're seeing here. That must have been about four years ago now.

[Sigur]

well it worked, it just had no physical feedback and was more of a toy than a real keyboard. I'd imagine it'd be next to impossible to type quickly on it.

That's the same thing everybody said about the iPod touch/iPhone keyboard and now everybody is happy.

[TuffLuffJimmy]

That's the same thing everybody said about the iPod touch/iPhone keyboard and now everybody is happy.

That's completely different...
the iPod keyboard is little and the typing speed expectations are smaller. a full size keyboard that disappears when you put your fingers down on it, that is fullsize so most would expect to rest their fingers on can't be used as easily as a real keyboard. Also, this thing has been out for years and never caught on and the reviews aren't favorable for it, other than the gimmick appeal.

So: this keyboard and the iPhone keyboard are completely different.

[Sigur]

That's completely different...
the iPod keyboard is little and the typing speed expectations are smaller. a full size keyboard that disappears when you put your fingers down on it, that is fullsize so most would expect to rest their fingers on can't be used as easily as a real keyboard. Also, this thing has been out for years and never caught on and the reviews aren't favorable for it, other than the gimmick appeal.

So: this keyboard and the iPhone keyboard are completely different.

You're right. But still, I'd like to try one of those

[Melrose]

I read somewhere where it only recognized half of your typing.

Neat idea, but usability is a big FAIL.