How about this for a keyboard

[Naboomagnoli]

http://www.virtual-laser-keyboard.com/

I don't think it'd be good for games! Damn cool though, for the gentleman who travels (with his PSP?)

[Mr Turnip]

Thats awesome, no more clumsy people spilling drinks on their keyboards eh? Thats pretty good and practicle but it's $200

[Varsh]

That's interesting, but then again wouldn't there sometime be a problem with knowing whether you have your finger pressed on a key or whether it's just hovering above it? If there's one thing I love about keyboards is the fact that you can just simply rest your hands on them.

[Hunnter]

Thats exactly my worry with this keyboard Varsh.

Hows it going to detect a hover or tap?
You could measure vibrations on the surface, but your wrists vibrate the table by moving on it, your joints click inside your arm, its not much but it does do to a certain extent..

Plus you could have one of these tapping freaks (ie ME! ) that tap tables alot just for the hell of it, you might only be typing a small word, thats just a scene for an accident.. lol

Thats pretty much the concern i have with this neat little idea.


To add on to this, would anyone like a folding keyboard?
One that just wraps up into a tube, pop it in a case and your off!
I think that would be a great idea and could take off pretty well, and cheap which is the main factor with some of these things.
(Ponders designing one and patenting... probably already done..)

[Varsh]

There's been folding and wrappable keyboards for years.

[Eddiesm213]

Well, I had my doubts but it did get a somewhat good review:

'It really does work'
I just received the virtual keyboard via Expansys customary overnight delivery. Superb!

Firstly, I'm using a Palm Tungsten T3 - a unit that is listed as being compatible with the VKB on iTech's own website.

Initially, I had trouble getting the supplied VKB driver to work on my T3, with Serial Timeout errors. I deleted the previous pairing and did a soft reset of the T3. After repeating the pairing process, the unit now works. Word to Go has caused a couple of Fatal Exceptions, requiring soft resets, but I haven't used the VKB long enough to know if this is going to be a long term problem. Palm Apps such as Memo and Calendar work fine.

In use, the laser keyboard is surprisingly good. Although an experienced computer user, I find that a two fingered approach works very well. The unit copes well with 'shifted' keys like caps and punctuation. There are occasional mis-keys and extra spaces but I suspect my thumbs get in the way. After a while you need to remind yourself you are simply padding away on a desk. Very odd.

The keyboard will not work in extremely bright conditions, but I found that it still registered keystrokes even when I couldn't make out some of the keys. Also, there appears to be no pound symbol, so if your work involves UK currency, avoid.

For sheer geek value, this is a credible alternative to a fold up keyboard. It is considerably more expensive than a real keyboard so bear that in mind if considering this. 7 out of 10.

EDIT: I have found that the product consistently hangs in Word to Go on my T3, which is a pity. However, I have as yet not had it fail during Memo/Calendar and other built-in Palm apps.

Link Here

However Check out this CNET review HERE 4.9/10

I guess some like it and some don't.

[Saaya Irie]

I've read a review of that kind of keyboard a while ago in 2005 I think. Some people said its good, but some people say it sometimes press another key by accident. A type of keyboard that is definately a no-no for FPS.

[Firewarrior]

What i saw this 2Yrs ago in UK damn Some Countries get OLD stuff

[pacman326]

Well, it's the first try to commercialize the concept. I am just waiting for the day where you dont need the palm or the keyboard, you just see the imagine in your eyeball and think the words.

[turkmen117]

That's interesting, but then again wouldn't there sometime be a problem with knowing whether you have your finger pressed on a key or whether it's just hovering above it? If there's one thing I love about keyboards is the fact that you can just simply rest your hands on them.

yeas and the risk for "hand slipping" would be huge

if there was a board looking thing which you can just roll out and almost feels like a keyboard those could get really popular

[seksy]

where's the mouse? I want a Mouse combo for that. .

[Jman21stc]

there is no mouse, and the thing is a good idea but not good at all for gaming. I tried something similar the other day at a mall. I just couldn't get used to it. Also, usually when playing games u don't look at the key board much because u have the keys to lay ur fingers on. With this u could end up falling of a cliff because ur hand started resting on the table.

[mrnagy88]

Definately, you can't push 2 buttons at once, especially if one blocks the other-one, as the light comes from a single source, and goes back to a "sensor" which would also be a single "sensor"

So you couldn't push, T F and C at the same time, or you couldn't push I K and < at the same time.. something like that

not good for gaming at all

I would imagine, even SHIFT-A would be hard, unless you use the opposite shift button...

lol, how does the mouse work, it draws a mouse pad, and you put your finger on it, and move it around?

[Jman21stc]

there is no mouse pad, u just use a regular mouse
Also, if u really can't get use to it being so silent, it has a little speaker on it that can be turned on to produce clicking noises for the key boardLoL

[PoisonRemedy]

A guy on my course has one of these. They're pretty good. I didn't see any problems with it.

[Jman21stc]

really? Does he game or just use it for typing?

[curryking1]

This week's update is definitely nothing to laugh at. It appears as though Sony is finally taking the European store to the next level as they've been providing solid updates over the course of the last couple of months. This week sees the addition of old classics like Prince of Persia and Crash Bandicoot: Warped. The update also features demos for one of the best basketball games to date as well as a top notch wrestling title. Add all that in with the massive Rock Band update and you're looking at one of the best PlayStation Store updates in recent memory.

Playable Content

- Prince of Persia Classic full game (£7.99/€9.99)
- Novastrike full game (£6.29/€7.99)
- Crash Bandicoot: Warped PS1 game (£3.99/€4.99)
- WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009 demo
- NBA 2K9 demo

Add-on Content

- SoulCalibur IV Yoda add-on character (£3.19/€3.99)
- Buzz! Quiz TV "Horror Movies" add-on pack (£3.99/€4.99)
- Dead Space "Obsidion Suit" add-on
- Dead Space "Scorpion Suit" add-on (£2.39/€2.99)
- Rock Band DLC (listed after the break)
- Civilization Revolution "Scenario Pack - The Victory Pack" (£0.79/€0.99)
- Civilization Revolution "Scenario Pack - Survival" (£0.79/€0.99)
- Civilization Revolution "Map Pack - Brave New World" (free)
- Civilization Revolution "Map Pack - The Surreal" (free)
- Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 "Spyglass Hill" pack (£6.29/€7.99)
- Mega Man 9 "Hero Mode" (£1.19/€1.49)
- Mega Man 9 "Special Stage" (£1.19/€1.49)
- Mega Man 9 "Superhero Mode" (£1.19/€1.49)
- G1 Jockey 4 2008 "Additional Horses" pack 1

Rock Band DLC

Mötley Crüe - Dr. Feelgood (£8.99/€10.99)

- "Dr Feelgood"
- "Slice of Your Pie"
- "Rattlesnake Shake"
- "Kickstart My Heart"
- "Without You"
- "Same Ol' Situation (SOS)"
- "Sticky Sweet"
- "She Goes Down"
- "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)"
- "Time for Change"

Nirvana 7 Pack (£4.99/€7.99)

- "Breed" (£0.99/€1.49)
- "Lounge Act" (£0.99/€1.49)
- "On a Plain" (£0.99/€1.49)
- "Polly" (£0.99/€1.49)
- "Something in the Way" (£0.99/€1.49)
- "Stay Away" (£0.99/€1.49)
- "Territorial Pissings" (£0.99/€1.49)

Music

- PAIN theme tune

Videos

- Midnight Club Los Angeles trailer
- 5x GT Academy trailers
- Vampire Rain "Kill em all" trailer
- MotorStorm Pacific Rift trailer
- Burnout Paradise "Bikes" trailer
- EndWar "Voice Command" trailer
- 2x NHL 09 trailers

Themes and Wallpapers

- WipEout HD "Colour" theme
- 2x Linger In Shadows wallpapers

[BustenRhymes7790]

One sec

[BustenRhymes7790]

This week's European PlayStation Store update is quite respectable. It appears as though Sony is finally taking the European Store to the next level as they've provided solid updates over the course of the last couple of months. This week, the PlayStation Network is home old classics like Prince of Persia Classic and Crash Bandicoot: Warped. The update also features demos for one of the best basketball games to date, as well as a top-notch wrestling title. Add to that a massive Rock Band update and you're looking at one of the best European updates in recent memory.

Playable Content

- Prince of Persia Classic full game (£7.99/€9.99)
- Novastrike full game (£6.29/€7.99)
- Crash Bandicoot: Warped PS1 game (£3.99/€4.99)
- WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009 demo
- NBA 2K9 demo

Add-on Content

- SoulCalibur IV Yoda add-on character (£3.19/€3.99)
- Buzz! Quiz TV "Horror Movies" add-on pack (£3.99/€4.99)
- Dead Space "Obsidion Suit" add-on
- Dead Space "Scorpion Suit" add-on (£2.39/€2.99)
- Rock Band DLC (listed after the break)
- Civilization Revolution "Scenario Pack - The Victory Pack" (£0.79/€0.99)
- Civilization Revolution "Scenario Pack - Survival" (£0.79/€0.99)
- Civilization Revolution "Map Pack - Brave New World" (free)
- Civilization Revolution "Map Pack - The Surreal" (free)
- Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 "Spyglass Hill" pack (£6.29/€7.99)
- Mega Man 9 "Hero Mode" (£1.19/€1.49)
- Mega Man 9 "Special Stage" (£1.19/€1.49)
- Mega Man 9 "Superhero Mode" (£1.19/€1.49)
- G1 Jockey 4 2008 "Additional Horses" pack 1

Rock Band DLC

Mötley Crüe - Dr. Feelgood (£8.99/€10.99)

- "Dr Feelgood"
- "Slice of Your Pie"
- "Rattlesnake Shake"
- "Kickstart My Heart"
- "Without You"
- "Same Ol' Situation (SOS)"
- "Sticky Sweet"
- "She Goes Down"
- "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)"
- "Time for Change"

Nirvana 7 Pack (£4.99/€7.99)

- "Breed" (£0.99/€1.49)
- "Lounge Act" (£0.99/€1.49)
- "On a Plain" (£0.99/€1.49)
- "Polly" (£0.99/€1.49)
- "Something in the Way" (£0.99/€1.49)
- "Stay Away" (£0.99/€1.49)
- "Territorial Pissings" (£0.99/€1.49)

Music

- PAIN theme tune

Videos

- Midnight Club Los Angeles trailer
- 5x GT Academy trailers
- Vampire Rain "Kill em all" trailer
- MotorStorm Pacific Rift trailer
- Burnout Paradise "Bikes" trailer
- EndWar "Voice Command" trailer
- 2x NHL 09 trailers

Themes and Wallpapers

- WipEout HD "Colour" theme
- 2x Linger In Shadows wallpapers