Your opinion on next generation touchscreen keyboard

[sagi22n]

Need your opinion here so speak your mind no matter who you are.
i was thinking of making a new keyboard and after a long research i found that Optimus Tactus keyboard has a consent in mind that is about what i was thinking to create.

now as a gamer or designer or just any user. what do you think about it?
if it was under 150$ will you buy it.
is it going to be much better for games?
for me the idea that i can MOVE the keys any way i like is a big deal.
or that i can create or remove keys.
i will have memory to keep up to 10 different layout that you can change between.
so it would look something like this
To make it more clear I can add sound to keys so I can record and attache  each key sound to his key

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!

Interesting first post.

I'm not sure how well this would work.  I have used an iPad touch screen, and I guess it was kinda useable as it was not too big, so I could hold my hands on the home "keys" and sort of type.

Something like this is much bigger, and you wouldn't get the fingertip feedback when moving the fingers to the further away keys - function keys, arrow keys and so on.

[Grim Fandango]

I would have to use it first. But for now, I do not think it will feel that great to use. In fact, I am really skeptical about how practical it is to use, and how efficient it will be compared to a traditional keyboard.

That said, I would love to try it out. Just out of curiosity.

[Findecanor]

For most of us here, tactile feedback from the keys is what is most important. Once you can type properly, legends are there mostly for decoration and a significant number of us even use blank keyboards.

That said, I am myself interested in how a touch-screen on the desk surface could be used to enhance the use of a desktop.
Please do consider other types of controls than keys on the key surface, such as pop-up controls, volume controls, mouse controls, touchpad gestures etc.
To do more advanced stuff such as changing national layout you would need a driver at the host.

I don't think we have seen autocomplete or swype-like gestures on a (Western) desktop keyboard yet.
Do also read up on how the Touchstream keyboards used to work. (no longer made)

[jacobolus]

Is the Optimus Tactus a real product? I thought it was just a mocked-up idea.

I don’t understand why it wouldn’t be better to just figure out a way to send data from an iPad or Android tablet to a computer, and then use that as the input device (for stuff like the color pickers, virtual musical instruments, etc.). There are some really cheap Chinese Android tablets these days for someone wanting to buy a dedicated device, or (hundreds of?) millions of people who already own iPads. Sell a little dongle or software application for $20 and tap that whole existing user base.

For a keyboard to use for typing text (or programming, or playing games, or whatever), tactile feedback is hugely valuable. A touchscreen isn’t anywhere close to as nice, in my opinion.

[HardCelery]

There's just not much of a point, without physical key's it would never be able to replace a keyboard for typing or gaming.

[Novus]

HHKB TYPE S

[divito]

I think it could work on a laptop, but I for one, am a huge proponent of physical buttons of a tactile nature. Touchscreens as a whole simply aren't as reliable as full-time input devices for typing, or gaming.

[noisyturtle]

Have you seen the video for the haptic feedback touchscreen that was at CES a few years ago? If that sort of technology could be applied, a touchscreen keyboard would be pretty neat.
Either that or the programmable bubble layer like Tactus. Hell, a combination of both would change more than just keyboards.

[paicrai]

[JackMills]

I connected my Raspberry Pi once to my android tablet and used a keyboard app to type on the RasPi. What I found very annoying is that you cannot place your fingers on the home row as the screen will register your touch. Another thing is the lack of feedback, audio feedback is not the same as tactile feedback.
I found it a good temporary solution as a quick fix for the lack of proper keyboard, but I would never consider using such a keyboard permanently

[Oobly]

I would never use one let alone pay for one.

On a desktop you have the best already, SEPARATED display and input. You look at one which is at a higher angle and you interact with the other which is at a lower angle (keyboard and mouse). Now and then I will glance at my keyboard to get my bearings (since I don't touch-type), but I certainly don't want to have to look at my keyboard to figure out what each button does.

Also, most people rest their fingers on the board, not possible with a touch screen. You'd have to keep your fingers off the screen and only touch down on the parts you want to activate.

These 2 factors make for VERY bad ergonomics, as anyone who would use one would discover quickly. They'd get fatigued quickly (neck by looking down all the time and arms by having to keep the fingers off the surface) and change back to something that works.

[sagi22n]

you all have some good points
please keep posting any more thoughts so maybe we can find the breakthrough solution needed to make it work.
if we know all the cons we can make them into pros.
be part of the future and make a different with out even knowing it is the best reword of all.
thank you

[Findecanor]

Maybe the killer product wouldn't be smarter touch-keyboard, but a smarter touchpad that goes beside the keyboard.
Perhaps an Android app with Windows "driver" that would make the tablet into a touchpad. Variations of that exist, but for specialized use-cases.

How about a dock+app for MS Surface Pro with ports for an external keyboard and screen that would transform the tablet into something like a Wacom Pen and Touch but with a screen?
Then interpret both multitouch gestures, and have customizable layer of controls for volume, music player, etc.

[IvanIvanovich]

Touchscreen is terrible for keyboard. I would never use as a keyboard when there is still a choice for real keyboard. They do make nice control surface for other things like drawing, or music.

[CPTBadAss]

I wouldn't be interested in a touchscreen keyboard. I really don't like the one I have on my S5...or any smart phone really. I really miss having an actual keyboard on my phone. Can't imagine I would change my mind if the keyboard was resized for a desktop.

[1391406]

Firstly, there is the latency between touching the screen and registering a key which doesn't exist using a physical keyboard. Beyond that, there's the lack of location sensing and touch typing ability correlated with real, physical keyboards. Further, as mentioned, fingers cannot rest on touchscreens lest they register keystrokes. However, lastly, and perhaps most obviously, a touchscreen simply isn't very satisfying to type on. Tactility is limited to a flat surface which provides no cushion and offers limited vibratory feedback.

[Oobly]

Maybe the killer product wouldn't be smarter touch-keyboard, but a smarter touchpad that goes beside the keyboard.
Perhaps an Android app with Windows "driver" that would make the tablet into a touchpad. Variations of that exist, but for specialized use-cases.

How about a dock+app for MS Surface Pro with ports for an external keyboard and screen that would transform the tablet into something like a Wacom Pen and Touch but with a screen?
Then interpret both multitouch gestures, and have customizable layer of controls for volume, music player, etc.

Or just write an Android app and PC software that uses Bluetooth to connect. Use your phone next to your keyboard to do all the stuff this thing is supposed to do, without having to buy new hardware.

If you have a Galaxy Note series phone like I do you can even use it as a genuine Wacom pressure sensitive accurate input device for drawing, etc.

In other words, there is no reason for this type of device to be made, you can do it all already with some software and existing devices.

[baldgye]

I like the company that made those renders. They also made a keyboard that had an OLED display in every single key that could be set to anything you wanted, and then ofc programs to do many diffrent things etc etc... it was crazy, huge, not great to use but cool non the less.

The problem with the full touchscreen keyboard for a desktop is that you sacrifice so much and gain so little.
Having a touch screen you can draw on the size of a keyboard, made by a keyboard maker (or a peripherals maker) would result in a meh drawing tablet for your PC and a meh touch screen keyboard... when for (for arguments sake) the same/similar money you could get both peripherals that are individually better.



But the tech and concept is cool and I don't berate anyone who would want such a device as the proliferation of these kinds of devices will only lead to better touch screen keyboards and thus a better mobile experience.

Have you seen the video for the haptic feedback touchscreen that was at CES a few years ago? If that sort of technology could be applied, a touchscreen keyboard would be pretty neat.
Either that or the programmable bubble layer like Tactus. Hell, a combination of both would change more than just keyboards.

Yeah this **** is cool.
I know MS is working on similar tech with displays for tablets etc that deform when pressed in certain areas to give feedback when typing or pressing buttons.

[sagi22n]

I can defiantly try and get that technology.
there is a still an issue "where my finger rest and suggestions?
I was thinking what if the button respond only when the screen feel more pressure or respond to increased pressure.
like when you use Ipad (every app is different) if you just push on it but move your finger instead of lifting it right away it will not make "click " action it will do dragging option. what i am saying is that is that can be configured and may solve the issue of being able to leave fingers on screen.

[sagi22n]

looks like lots of you think its not  a good idea

[Findecanor]

looks like lots of you think its not  a good idea

Maybe you just need to take your idea into a different direction.

[Oobly]

looks like lots of you think its not  a good idea

I just don't see a use case for a full sized board that works better than with existing products.

The only situation I would use something similar to this is for MIDI control sliders or photo editing sliders (something like the VMeter, but more configurable / flexible). Then it can be a small module that sits next to a keyboard (to the left of it in my case). If it has a nice aluminium case with decent weight to it, angled like a Filco with feet retracted it could be a nice little gadget. Can double as a trackpad and/or secondary display for email notifications, weather widgets, social network message notifications, etc.

I still would probably not use it, though, due to wanting to separate display and interface for ergonomic reasons (display high so neck is at a natural angle, input low so arms are at a natural angle). So I'd still prefer it to be a tactile solution with no integrated display (mechanical rotary encoders would suit me more).

GeekHack is primarily a site for "mechanical" keyboard enthusiasts with most mechanical boards focusing on tactility. We're a hard bunch to try to sell the idea of a non-tactile keyboard to. 

[HardCelery]

looks like lots of you think its not  a good idea

It's not, and it's not like a tablet app couldn't do the same thing for cheaper.

[RED-404]

I'm all for experimenting, but the tech isn't there yet for a practical product, well at least not as a primary input device. You can make it functional, and very customisable but at this point not better than a mechanical switch/button. Haptic feedback and display morphing can help but you still have problems with oil, grease, misreads, temperature, jitter, latency, and the old WTF do I do with my fingers problem.

[jacobolus]

I think haptic feedback screens are an exciting university/corporate research project. Not close to ready for consumer products.

As for the rest of this idea: I again would recommend that you try to implement it via existing Android tablets / iPads. It’ll be much easier to test the idea and get adoption.

[davkol]

Physical keyboard keys have edges that let you recognize, where you are on the keyboard. You'd need to add sensors to detect, which finger touched the keyboard, and then do some calculations to avoid typos. Then add haptic feedback and you finally have a poor replacement for a physical keyboard.

[Demetrium]

I think keyboard enthusiasts would (for the most part) have trouble with this since we're so into the different types and feels of switches. Casual users on the other hand might like it.

The concept of new layouts on the fly is pretty neat, but I don't see much benefit in changing the icons of keys (like Optimus). If you have to keep looking at keys to see what they are then you're doing it wrong! It looks cool, but just isn't very practical to me.

[SpecTP]

it's an interesting idea.  Razer has done it with their Ultimate Deathstalker keyboard (though only the numpad portion).  There are two issues:
  1. The focus of this forum is biased to mechanical keyboards, so using a touch keyboard will engender more negative feedback.
  2. the current issue with the Razer (I have one) is the difficulty in programming the keys to match the application you're using.  There are very few games that even natively accomodate the usage.

[xybre]

This would be very useful to simulation gamers, such as aircraft enthusiasts and space games like Star Citizen and Elite: Dangerous.

Historically I always wanted something like this, but it makes touch typing impossible and while an infinitely configurable keyboard is great, being able to feel the keys is important to using them the way most people do.

Except in situations that are highly mappable, feedback and duplex communication is required, as in simulators, visual editors, point of sale, etc. Very useful, just not for *just* typing or basic twitch gaming.

[Lain1911]

I don't like touching a screen. I'll probably hold out for holograms.

[Kmynis]

I don't even like the flat profile keys because I can't feel them well enough, so this kind of keyboard would be a risky buy.
Although I see a bunch of people who would buy this board for their favorite game or simply to mess around with all the possibilities.