Anyone have experience with "projection" keyboards

[Internetlad]

Example:http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=y-wbOlWa-gk&feature=endscreen

I never get the idea behind these. It's all the downsides of having a touch-screen keyboard (no tactility, no feedback, very difficult to touch type) while STILL being tied to a desk.

They're cool but totally impractical.

Y/N?

[Reptile]

He sounds like the shiffty five guy lol. Looks cool but I couldn't use it everyday

[cactux]

Whoever invented this stuff, does not type faster than 5wpm. Can you imagine using this on a hard surface fir a few hrs. You will end up whit big finger issues

[Squelos]

Hehe, pretty hilarious.
Really, not many advantages over touch screens.
Cheaper than touchscreens, so it could be used in kitchens for example, but it really isnt any good for typing anything than a search ...

They have been around for a while now.

[Lethal Squirrel]

And I will tell you how to do it, faster than you can say poopty puepty pants-ss

[elef]

These were never intended to replace "real" keyboards. They could be useful as travel keyboards, paired with a tablet, and I think I've heard they might be used in sterile environments (a flat surface is much easier to sterilize than a keyboard). Obviously they are not meant for home/office use.

Come to think of it, this technology should be integrated into tablets. Just prop up your tablet on a desk, switch on keyboard & mouse projection and you have a somewhat usable laptop.

[fohat.digs]

That last suggestion about integrating it in devices that don't actually have keyboards is a great idea.

I could see these things being useful in "specialty" or "emergency" situations, especially with ersatz "mouse-pad" capability built in.

The device would have to be cheap and small before I would consider it, if I had a tablet, which I don't, and for transportability, flat is much better than cubic.

I bet it would make you very happy to get back to your real keyboard!

[The_Beast]

Even if I had a tablet, I'd still rather type on the touch screen

[Internetlad]

elef makes a good point, and one I hadn't though of, for use in sterile enviroments. Nifty stuff.

Has anybody ever used one first hand?

[Djuzuh]

There are special keyboards for sterile inveronments.

I guess it's only for the look, the gadgety-side and the portability.

[smknjoe]

I tried one at directron.com here in Houston about 10 years ago and again about 4 years later when they were trying to get rid of the same stock. Just as you would think it's like pounding on your desk and is prone to errors. They look neat though.

[Internetlad]

I tried one at directron.com here in Houston about 10 years ago and again about 4 years later when they were trying to get rid of the same stock. Just as you would think it's like pounding on your desk and is prone to errors. They look neat though.

For a second there I thought you were discribing Windows Vista.

I kid, I kid.

[noodles]

we had one of these Delvin cleankey in our medical device manufacturing cleanroom- horrible horrible typing experience! mushy doesn't even begin to describe it!
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[Internetlad]

we had one of these Delvin cleankey in our medical device manufacturing cleanroom- horrible horrible typing experience! mushy doesn't even begin to describe it!
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that thing looks like it would go "splat" if you touched it.

[noodles]

surprisingly durable it weighs 2kg! throw it at a wall and its likely to knock you out on the rebound!....its got a clean button that disables all keyboard inputs when your disinfecting it with 99% IPA

[Cindori]

I had a projection keyboard. They are all pretty much identical to each other. Same layout, sound when clicking, etc.

It was a cool gadget and that was it. The lack of tactile response made it pretty hard to use. It was also not that great precision, although much higher then what I expected. It took some learning because if you accidently block out the ray-path with your hand or finger it will react as if you are mashing your palm on the keyboard.

[Internetlad]

its got a clean button that disables all keyboard inputs when your disinfecting it with 99% IPA

I wish every keyboard had that. Wiping down a laptop keyboard, look up and the search box is open and all my desktop icons are gone.

[elef]

There are special keyboards for sterile inveronments.

I guess it's only for the look, the gadgety-side and the portability.

1984: "There are keyboards already. I guess this Model M is just for the looks and the weird sound it makes, and fighting zombies of course."
How much do the existing sterilizable keyboards cost and how much will a projection keyboard cost when the economies of scale kick in? Which is easier to sterilize?