Jan 2, 2005
This virtual keyboard shines, literally
By Jeremy Au Yong
THE i-Tech Virtual Keyboard is a gadget virtually bursting at the
seams with the 'wow' factor.
At first glance, the i-Tech does not look anything like a
keyboard.
You can turn any flat surface
into a keyboard with the i-Tech gadget. It creates a virtual
keyboard on which you can type away normally. -- LAU FOOK
KONG
In fact, it looks more like something Star Trek folk might use to
shoot Klingon.
But set it down on a flat surface and turn it on - and that is
where this gizmo really shines, literally.
The device shoots out a beam - projecting a red laser image of a
keyboard onto a tabletop.
Type on this projected image and the unit actually interprets your
key presses like an actual keyboard.
When I whipped it out for a quick message at Starbucks, many
surrounding patrons turned away from their mochachinos to
look.
It is just so cool.
But something had to give.
In this case, that something is ease of use. As a keyboard, the
i-Tech is barely passable.
While definitely faster than tapping on a tiny on-screen keyboard
or using hand-writing recognition, the virtual keyboard at all
sensitivity settings was quite error-prone.
Try typing while wearing large gloves and you will get an idea of
the accuracy the keyboard provides.
Currently, the i-Tech is compatible with all PDA platforms - Palm,
Pocket PC and Smartphone. There are plans to make it work with all
Bluetooth devices, so you may soon also be able to look really cool
typing SMS messages.
Although not yet quite perfect, the i-Tech is certainly a clever
solution to bulky foldaway keyboards.
At $328 though, it is quite pricey for something that you are not
really going to need.
But it is so cool, you will want one anyway.
