Gizmodo: input devices

BlueMaemo Turns Your Nokia Tablet Into a Wireless Mouse, Keyboard

Elaine Chow — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 23:30:00 EDT

Usually, the only reason we use the keyboards on internet tablets is because we can't get to a more comfortable input device. Still, if you want to turn that on your head, here's a beta application for Nokia Internet Tablets (the N800 and N810 specifically) that let you use them as a keypad and mouse for your main computer. BlueMaemo uses Bluetooth and works with Windows XP, Vista and Linux BlueZ. I guess it could be fun for freaking out anyone who's using your desktop at the time. Can anyone say awesome Halloween prank? [JK on the Run]

Microsoft UnMouse Pad Prototype is Paper Thin, Pressure Sensitive, Multitouch on Steroids

Adrian Covert — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:30:32 EDT

The UnMouse Pad is like the MacBook Air/Pro's multitouch trackpad on steroids. On display at the Microsoft Research Summit (which also housed the Microsoft Sphere), this Joint project between Microsoft and NYU utilizes Force-Sensing Resistors to create one giant, mouse pad-sized circuit.

In the last part of the video, you can see the insane amount of input points the UnMouse Pad can track, and the rising bars indicate the amount of pressure applied at each point (especially when I press my whole hand on the pad). According to creator Ken Perlin, the technology used in the UnMouse Pad is dirt cheap as well, which could make it friendly for consumer markets. [Microsoft Research]

EzKEY Keypad Mouse, for Number Crunchers on the Go

Charlie White — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 09:22:31 EDT

This EzKEY combo mouse and keypad might be just what you're looking for if you're on the road, suddenly need to add a long list of numbers, and your laptop doesn't have a keypad. Just flip up the top as you would open your car's trunk, and there you have a keypad to do some quick number crunching. Flip it down, and it works and feels just like any other mouse.

This is a good idea for specific situations, but the shape of the mouse could be a little more ergonomic. To be offered in black or white, EzKEY presented this two-in-one keypad mouse at Taitronics Bangkok 2007, not saying when it would be available or at what price. [Aving]

Optimus Maximus Keyboard Pre-Order Countdown Begins (Get Yours Saturday)

Charlie White — Wed, 16 May 2007 10:35:57 EDT

As tired as we're getting of this on-again, off-again story, we might as well give you an update on that ambitious Optimus Maximus keyboard, the $1564 piece of vaporware that aims to have an OLED display underneath every key.

Now its Russian makers at Art Lebedev Studio have posted a countdown clock, showing how much time is left until you can pre-order one of the pricey input devices. So when will this bauble really ship?

The company set a ship date for the first 200 keyboards at November 31st of this year, with 200 more rolling out in December, and 400 more in January 2008. The designers are attempting to be completely transparent about their development schedule, but that countdown is also to the time when we can finally see a description and detailed specifications of this expensive keyboard.

Check out the development schedule:

At these low volumes, perhaps Lebedev should sign and number each one, because they're more like performance-art objects than keyboards. – Charlie White

Optimus Maximus Keyboard [Art.Lebedev]
Optimus Maximus Development Schedule [Art.Lebedev Blog]

The Keywheel Concept

gizmodo.com — Wed, 12 Oct 2005 19:26:10 EDT

So Microth seems to think that their new technology they've dreamt up is somehow so unique and awesome that they had to publish it on their site IMMEDIATELY. It's called The Keywheel and it's an input device concept in which you'd use ~~Apple's~~ a click wheel to input letters and numbers to a device. Basically it's like an old rotary phone, you move the wheel to a precise location to get that letter or number. Simple enough, right? If you ask me, I'd say it's a good idea for the cellphone market and nothing else. I just can't see how it'd work better than hitting a button a certain number of times though.

Keywheel page [Microth site]
New Input Concept [I4U]