Gool Stuff, Stan Firm Projects Virtual Keyboard
By Mark Long -- e-inSITE, 5/2/2002
e-insite.net
Canesta reports that the company is developing a virtual keyboard for PDAs that will be able to project a full keyboard image onto an adjacent surface as well as detect the user's finger movements by means of the company's patented electronic perception technology. Producing real-time, three-dimensional "depth maps" of the nearby environment, Canesta's electronic perception technology has been designed to "sight enable" ordinary electronic devices by means of a tiny 3-D sensor chip and software.
According to Canesta president and CEO Nazim Kareemi, several cellular device manufacturers are already working with Canesta with the intent of rolling out projection keyboard-equipped cell phones before next spring.
"A fully integrated projection keyboard with a standard complement of full-sized keys provides the best answer for cell phones, smart phones, PDAs or other mobile devices intended for use with value-added connectivity services," said Kareemi. "If I want to send email through my cell phone, I need the independence to be able to type as I am used to, not with my thumbs, and not through a number pad. What I don't need is additional complexity, such as a fold-up mechanical keyboard or other separate module to carry around, wire up, or lose, just to accomplish this." |
