Making a Keyboard with Mutating Keycaps? 64
Montreal Geek asks: "I'm currently working on a pet project of mine for which I now find myself with the financial resources to bring to completion: the International Keyboard from Heck. The basic idea (most of the electronics and software for it have already been written) is that the keyboard has a variable layout (and a nice interface to change that layout) with the actual images on the keycaps changing to match what glyph/code-point it will generate. My problem is that I am unsure of which hardware solution to use for the actual, physical keycaps. My original prototype keycap uses a 7x9 array of leds under a lexan surface, but the power requirements of this many leds on a whole keyboard (even when scanning) is a tad prohibitive, and the lexan doesn't feel very good under a finger. Although glowing red keycaps look cool at first, I'm a bit worried that they will end up overly aggressive and annoying in the long run. Can you think of better alternatives? Keep in mind that the design must be resistant to repeated impacts (it is a keyboard after all) and, preferably, have fairly low power consumption so that the device remains practical for laptops." Although a few years from being truly affordable, might OLED technology be appropriate for this project? What other ideas might work out well for such a piece of hardware?
Can you think of better alternatives? (Score:1, Funny)
Fiber optics? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Fiber optics? (Score:2)
First off, its usefulness seem to depend on the ability to "switch" between keycaps while reusing the same light emitting hardware. Is that even possible?
Secondly, I would expect there is a hard problem with the keys' movement needing to bend the fibers up to several times per second for the lifetime of the keyboard. My understanding of fiber is that it's flexible, to a point, but prone to fatigue if bent repeatedly.
-- MG
Re:Fiber optics? (Score:2)
Multi-core POF LUMINOUS M GRADE [asahi-kasei.co.jp]
Until now, the versatility of optical fibers has been limited by the increased attenuation which accompanied bending. M-grade Luminous, with its unique multi-core structure, has eliminated this problem for all practical purposes. Even the tightest kink in the cord will not cause attenuation to rise significantly.
With freedom from concerns of increased attenuation, M-grade Luminous enables a whole new range of applications and installation configurations.
Unrelated to the original topic, the V-Grade [asahi-kasei.co.jp] would be pretty sweet for case-modding.
---can't help ya but.... (Score:1)
Re:---can't help ya but.... (Score:2)
Re:---can't help ya but.... (Score:1)
Re:---can't help ya but.... (Score:1)
Try placing one of those small strands of Christmas lights under your desk. I have had this setup for a few years. I have the lights (blue) strung between the legs/supports of the desk.
When I sit back in my chair I can't see the lights and I have the strand plugged into the aux outlet on my stereo and can turn it off and on by turnign the radio off and on (and when I don't want the radio on I just flip it over to the aux/computer channel).
I've pondered making some kind of LED thing to go under the desk and erplace the Christmas lights but the lights "Just Work".
Re:---can't help ya but.... (Score:1)
Sticky tape (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Sticky tape (Score:1)
*Throws tomato*
Clear keycaps + LCD? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Clear keycaps + LCD? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Clear keycaps + LCD? (Score:1)
Re:Clear keycaps + LCD? (Score:2)
and have a bunch of little projectors behind them!
that would probably affect the power requirements though.
Darn. (Score:3, Funny)
I was hoping this would be a cure for IRC shouting.
Electroluminescent (Score:3, Interesting)
It would be fiddly but be low power and look cool.
LCD touchscreen underneath... (Score:1)
provide tactile feedback.
Even better if screen is backlit and each key
has a built-in lens to focus whatever is
on screen on slightly matted keycap surface.
Sounds like a patentable idea!
give it a try?
Paul B.
Re:LCD touchscreen underneath... (Score:1)
try you
Re:LCD touchscreen underneath... (Score:1)
Re:LCD touchscreen underneath... (Score:1)
Animation. (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Animation. (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Animation. (Score:3, Insightful)
There's probably lots of stuff you could do with an animated keyboard....
Maybe something . . . (Score:1)
Re:Maybe something . . . (Score:1)
LCD keycaps (Score:5, Informative)
Hurga
Re: LCD keycaps (Score:3, Informative)
LCD also suffers from angle of vision; you'd be surprised at how faded a keycap looks when it's at the edge of the keyboard. Place yourself in a confortable typing position and look at the numeric keypad on a typical PC keyboard: already over 30 degrees of angle for most people.
OLCD [as the editor suggested] looks promising, but very expensive.
-- MG
Re: LCD keycaps (Score:2)
Another LCD Key, and advice (Score:1)
Re:LCD keycaps (Score:1)
[New Page 1]
Seriously, a technology company with a site title of 'New Page 1' makes me think they are a bit under-staffed for the job.
Switches with built in graphical LCD's (Score:3, Informative)
www.screenkeys.com
Not quite the same, but... (Score:4, Interesting)
There, it's out in the public now, so use it but don't try to patent it or I'll sue your lame ass.
Sorry, but I don't have any ideas for making the printing on the keycap change dynamically.
LCD? (Score:4, Insightful)
I don't think there'll be many options to choose from.
Maybe opaque keys with a hole on the top, and a single-character LCD panel fitted in the hole (not 7-segment but pixelled, like those in "scientific" calculators). Then you can use a single bright light inside the keyboard that will shine through the white dots. And you could add a potentiometer to control the intensity of the light, like a car dashboard, in case it gets annoying. And you can put two lights, one green and one red, and a switch to turn on one or the other, or both, so you can change the light color.
I'm guessing power consumption should be much lower than leds on each key, too.
Use Software! (Score:4, Interesting)
To paraphrase and mutilate:
I just want to say one word to you - just one word : Software!
Check out a picture [electricnews.net] and the marketing stuff [canesta.com].
Should be real easy to project any kind of key using this technology.
Re:Use Software! (Score:2)
It's a wonderful idea for occasional typing on a device that does not normally provide good facilities for that, but I doubt anyone would want this as a primary input device for day-to-day work.
This is why the TRON idea of a CRT (or other graphical device) lying beneath a transparent touch-sensitive surface is impractical (but amazingly cool-looking).
The whole idea has been prompted by a friend of mine (a librarian) that types during his whole work day in two languages but needs frequent short 'switches' to other character sets-- the ability to switch to, say, cyrillic and see the unfamiliar layout would be very useful.
But since that keyboard is used day-in and day-out, it is important that it 'feels' like a normal keyboard.
-- MG
Re:Use Software! (Score:2)
Maybe you could use that to project stuff onto a blank keyboard?
Just a thought, since I don't know how or if it will work.
Re:Use Software! (Score:1)
Yes, you would have to reconfigure the canesta software to project onto a keyboard form factor. Once that was done, you wouldn't even need to sell the actual keyboard. Maybe a membrane keyboard cover that can be laid upon the user's current keyboard. Pick a matte material that will difuse the laser image better than a shiny plastic surface.
All the user would have to do is unplug their current keyboard and plug in the canesta projection keyboard. Then type away at their old keyboard while the canesta registers the keystrokes visually.
Slick
Get you NDA ready (Score:2)
IANAEE, but 15mm LCD's and Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal Micro Displays both sound promising.
...how about making a keyboard without ...keys (Score:3, Interesting)
You would just "calibrate" your "keyboard" by typing "Ok, now lets calibrate this keyboard - the keys are here 123 poi zxc mnb". And after then just start typing.
The only problem with this is that - the "data gloves" are expensive and clumsy. If someone knows how build something like this otherwise, please let me know :))
Re:...how about making a keyboard without ...keys (Score:1)
A standard keyboard gives multiple kinds of haptic feedback, both the up/down response (spring) when you click it, and the information about alignment (you can feel it when you don't hit the key in its center).
[Imaging touch typing without a sense of touch.]
Visual feedback (say from display goggles) would kinda defeat the purpose (touch typing).
Some "data gloves" do give force feedback, but they are very expensive
Without feedback there would be no way to keep your hands aligned to the virtual keys. The computer could use some sort of algorithm that continuously repositioned the "keyboard" based upon contexual information about what you type, but that is probably too complex. [Of course if would go nuts if you typed stuff like fsck -F ufs
Some simple ideas (Score:2)
Or, make the front sides (not the top) magnetic, and then have a lot of little metal rectangles with letters on them. You re-arrange the keys in software, then you move the rectangles to the right keys. The rectangles won't get in the way because you'll be touching the tops of the keys when you type, not the sides. (I remember using keyboards long ago that had things printed on the fronts of the keys.)
Or better yet, find out what material is used for those static-stick stickers that attach to things without glue. Then print up a bunch of those and you can stick them on the sides of the keys instead.
Or, have a small strip of plastic between each row (like the strip between the F keys and the number keys, but thinner). Your software can print out thin strips of paper which you can then attach to the strips of plastic.
Or, have a bunch of non-attached strips of plastic that can fit between the rows of keys and which sit at a 45 degree angle or so. They can attach at either side of the keyboard. Then your software can print out thin strips of paper with the keys on them, you can attach the paper to the plastic strips, and insert the strips.
Of course, none of this is as cool as having it done electronically, but one of these ways actually might work.
You owe the Oracle a Mutating Mouse, a beer, and $1000 if you use his brilliant ideas.
OT: Warm the keys, reduce the RSI risk? (Score:4, Interesting)
As the symptoms of RSI (that we experience - all
too often, eg when mousing & keying at all hours
of the day or night) may come, in part, from the
more or less constant touching of cold, at least
in Winter, plastic this guy's idea might help.
Ie, if the dynamic keytops that this inventor is
set to engineer happen to -warm- the tips of the
fingers instead of chilling them... I, for one,
wouldn't be surprised to see a decrease in RSI &
an increase in comfort resulting from their use.
Has anyone else noticed different levels of RSI-
symptoms with different ambient temeratures...?
PS I'm also looking to engineer a comfortable
seat, for my computer desk, that enables me to
peddle &/or otherwise exercise my legs while
at work with my vast array of systems. Ideally,
it will do something with the energy produced
by my moving my legs (eg on bicycle-like ped-
dles, slightly in front of me), like generate
electricity from it...
Hey! With bits from an old exercise bike, an
old automobile alternator, et al. this may be-
come the 2003 Killer DIY Project for Geeks!
Perhaps there should be a contest (annual or
monthly, you choose) for Best DIY Geek Project.
How about an 'overhead' projector? (Score:1)
Or better yet, the surface is just that, a surface and you have a camera that watches where users put their fingers!
It would probably need some optics to focus well over the entire keyboard from a short distance, but it could work.
Reposte (Score:3, Funny)
Any computer that plays games, does CAD, or uses any program where keyboard shortucts are useful.
What's wrong with a touch screen and a CRT?
The same thing as gloves used for modeling. Your hands and arms get tired from holding them up for so long. Aside from that, touchscreens wear out. Mechanical switches don't. (That's why my IBM Model M keyboard still works.
Re:Reposte (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:you don't want to keep using power to show keys (Score:2)
The LCD under the keycaps approach will be prettier, though continuously applying power will be a bitch. Thanks to USB though, at least the keyboard has an interface capable of moving bitmaps back and forth. Would be neat as hell though, you hit the capslock key, and the font changes on all the keys.
I also like the glasspad approach, where you have a touchscreen LCD. This isn't so cool for typing, but I imagine quite a few games could take advantage of it. Instead of using the mouse when playing warcraft, the game would upload a new layout for the glasspad, where you could click on the "attack" or "gather wood" icon with your finger, using the mouse only to direct peons and knights. Though, to a lesser extent, this could be possible even with the more traditional keyboards.
Why label the key caps at all? (Score:3, Funny)
My main keyboard at home doesn't have any keycaps. It's a prototype NeXT keyboard that I bought from one of their hardware engineers. It doesn't have anything printed on any of the keycaps. It keeps people from messing with my computer! I suppose it would work even better if I used a non-qwerty layout
This might help. . . (Score:1)
LCD + touch-screen (Score:2)
take an old LCD display, say, 800x240 or something similar and place it in the cutout for the keys in the keyboard, and cover it with a touch-screen layer. Draw your 'keyboard' on the LCD panel with software (very easy to reconfigure that way), and use the data from the touch-screen layer to determine which areas have been 'touched', mapping them to your 'keyboard'. Naturally, this gives you no keyboard feel, and would be very 'touchy' (pardon the pun).
Or instead of a touch-screen layer, build your own gloves, for which the only requirement would be an optical sensor under each fingertip, hooked up to the computer, which would tell you what area of the keyboard your fingertips are over based on timing data (analogous to the way arcade games "know" where you're pointing your gun at in Wild West Shootout or something). The only problem is, I don't know if this approach would work with LCD panels (somehow I don't think they're refreshed the same way as CRTs). So, the LCD + touchscreen approach might be more practical (if not simply feasible).
Either way, it would probably be expensive. But, if you're catering to an eager market (or planning to), you might be able to pull it off.
digital ink (Score:2)
A simple, soon-to-be inexpensive solution. (Score:3, Interesting)
Go to eInk [eink.com] and check out a few of their products. They'll prototype up some stuff for you at a pretty reasonable cost, in the $20k range.
It's thin, it's light, it's power-saving, it's going to be pretty cheap once large-scale manufacturing kicks in. You could seal this stuff under a clear keycap. The major engineering problem, that I can see, is getting all the graphics data to the keys. Based on how the tech works, you'd probably be making a segmented character display, rather than dot-matrix. If you want a dot-matrix graphics display, they have to put an active-matrix array behind the eInk layer to control the dots.
The stuff is also easy to see in bright light...something difficult to achieve with LEDs. Plus, it stays in the state you left it...no blank keyboard when your KeyCapWriter drivers crash on powerup.
If you really insist on them glowing, put a single LED in the key and front-light the eInk with a plastic light guide.
You'll align your product with another emerging technology, probably strengthing both companies' chances (or pinning your chances on their success, whatever way you look at it).
I don't work for eInk; wish I did. They once had an opening for a hardware engineer.
Led + small LCD (Score:1)
Having in mind that a cheapo electronic watch costs very little, the LCD-s probably will be 1-2 dollars each. The keycaps can be made transparent and the LCD can be placed below the cap to keep it from scratches. I remember one VERY OLD keyboard, that had the quadratic design of a Volvo 740 (when I say quadratic, I mean QUADRATIC
Maybe there exist keyboards with transparent caps, so they can directly be used.
How many keyboards need a infinite number of monkeys, if every monkey types on two keyboards?
Heat-sensitive ink+resistors (Score:2)
Watch out, might be patented. (Score:1)