LASER PROJECTION VIRTUAL LASER PROJECTION VIRTUAL KEYBOARDKEYBOARD

CONTENTCONTENT

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONNEED OF VIRTUAL KEYBOARDNEED OF VIRTUAL KEYBOARDTECHNOLOGYTECHNOLOGYHOW DOES IT WORKSHOW DOES IT WORKSFEATURESFEATURESUSES USES ADVANTAGESADVANTAGESDISADVANTAGESDISADVANTAGESFUTURE SCOPE & IMPLEMENTATIONSFUTURE SCOPE & IMPLEMENTATIONSCONCLUSIONCONCLUSIONREFERENCESREFERENCES

ABSTRACTABSTRACT

Computing is now not limited to desktops and laptops, it Computing is now not limited to desktops and laptops, it has found its way into mobile devices like palm tops and has found its way into mobile devices like palm tops and even cell phones. But what has not changed for the last even cell phones. But what has not changed for the last 50 or so odd years is the input device, the good old 50 or so odd years is the input device, the good old QWERTY keyboard. Virtual Keyboard uses sensor QWERTY keyboard. Virtual Keyboard uses sensor technology and artificial intelligence to let users work on technology and artificial intelligence to let users work on any surface as if it were a keyboard. Virtual Devices any surface as if it were a keyboard. Virtual Devices have developed a have developed a flashlight-size gadget flashlight-size gadget that projects an that projects an image of a keyboard on any surface and let’s people image of a keyboard on any surface and let’s people input data by typing on the image. The Virtual Keyboard input data by typing on the image. The Virtual Keyboard uses light to project a full-sized computer keyboard onto uses light to project a full-sized computer keyboard onto almost any surface, and disappears when not in use. almost any surface, and disappears when not in use.

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

Virtual Keyboard is just another example of today’s Virtual Keyboard is just another example of today’s computer trend of ‘smaller and faster’.computer trend of ‘smaller and faster’.

A Virtual (projection) keyboard is a full-size virtual A Virtual (projection) keyboard is a full-size virtual keyboard projected and touched on any surface.keyboard projected and touched on any surface.

The keyboard watches your fingers move and The keyboard watches your fingers move and translates that action into keystrokes in the device.translates that action into keystrokes in the device.

The virtual keyboard technology uses sensor The virtual keyboard technology uses sensor technology and artificial intelligence to let users technology and artificial intelligence to let users work on any flat surface as if it were a keyboard.work on any flat surface as if it were a keyboard.

NEED OF VIRTUAL KEYBOARDNEED OF VIRTUAL KEYBOARD

The Virtual Keyboard uses the infrared & laser technology The Virtual Keyboard uses the infrared & laser technology to project a full-size keyboard onto any flat surface. So you to project a full-size keyboard onto any flat surface. So you can use it almost anywhere.can use it almost anywhere.

A virtual keyboard prevents your username or password from being A virtual keyboard prevents your username or password from being stolen, especially while using stolen, especially while using public computerspublic computers, such as those , such as those available in available in Internet cafesInternet cafes. As the sequence in which the keys . As the sequence in which the keys appear will change every time the page is refreshed. So they are appear will change every time the page is refreshed. So they are useful from security point of view in Banks, ATM’s.useful from security point of view in Banks, ATM’s.

The Virtual Keyboard is not restricted to the ‘QWERTY’ The Virtual Keyboard is not restricted to the ‘QWERTY’ touch-typing paradigm ; adjustments can be done to the touch-typing paradigm ; adjustments can be done to the software to fit other touch-typing paradigms as well, such software to fit other touch-typing paradigms as well, such as the ‘DVORAK’ keyboard.as the ‘DVORAK’ keyboard.

TECHNOLOGYTECHNOLOGY

This system comprises of three modules:This system comprises of three modules:

1.1. The pattern projector (projection module)The pattern projector (projection module)

2.2. IR-light source (micro-illumination IR-light source (micro-illumination module)module)

3.3. The sensor moduleThe sensor module

Projection moduleProjection module

The Projection module printed image presents the The Projection module printed image presents the image of the keyboard of the system. This image image of the keyboard of the system. This image can be projected on any flat surface. The can be projected on any flat surface. The projected image is that of a standard QWERTY projected image is that of a standard QWERTY keyboard, with all the keys and control functions keyboard, with all the keys and control functions as in the keyboard.as in the keyboard.

This image is produced by illuminating a speciallyThis image is produced by illuminating a specially designed highly efficient designed highly efficient optical element with a red optical element with a red diode laser. diode laser.

MICRO-ILLUMINATION MODULEMICRO-ILLUMINATION MODULE

The Infrared Light Source emits a beam of The Infrared Light Source emits a beam of infrared light . This light beam is designed to infrared light . This light beam is designed to overlap the areaoverlap the area on which the keyboard pattern on which the keyboard pattern or printed image resides. This helps in or printed image resides. This helps in recognizing the hand movements and the recognizing the hand movements and the pressing of keys .pressing of keys .

Sensor moduleSensor module The Sensor Module serves as the eyes of this The Sensor Module serves as the eyes of this

Keyboard technology . The Sensor Module Keyboard technology . The Sensor Module operates by locating the user's fingers in 3-D operates by locating the user's fingers in 3-D space and tracking the intended keystrokes, or space and tracking the intended keystrokes, or mouse movements. Reflected light from user mouse movements. Reflected light from user interactions with the interface surface is passed interactions with the interface surface is passed through an infra-red filter and through an infra-red filter and

imaged onto a CMOS image imaged onto a CMOS image sensor in the sensor module. sensor in the sensor module.

WORKINGWORKING

There are actually two projections onto the flat There are actually two projections onto the flat surface in front of the projector. The projection surface in front of the projector. The projection you can see is the red holographic laser you can see is the red holographic laser projection. A few millimeters above the red projection. A few millimeters above the red projection is an invisible infrared (IR) projection. projection is an invisible infrared (IR) projection. When you press a key, the When you press a key, the IR projection above IR projection above the key is bounced back into the projector the key is bounced back into the projector that that interprets from the angle which key was actually interprets from the angle which key was actually pressed.The standard projector connects to a pressed.The standard projector connects to a computer either by Bluetooth or through a computer either by Bluetooth or through a standard USB connector.standard USB connector.

FEATURESFEATURES

Can do work in darkness.Can do work in darkness.

Wireless.Wireless.

Compact size keyboard.Compact size keyboard.

Rechargeable battery.Rechargeable battery.

Allow the convenience full-size typing in Allow the convenience full-size typing in tiny factor.tiny factor.

USES OF VIRTUAL KEYBOARDUSES OF VIRTUAL KEYBOARD

To make notes during smart classes, business meeting and in library as no one will hear your keying sound.

For those people who travel a lot , it is useful to carry being small in size and lighter in weight , even you can put it in your shirt’s pocket.

It is useful in hospitals where low noise is essential. It can be use in gaming control and TV remote

control.

ADVANTAGESADVANTAGES

Portability, Accuracy , Flexibility.Portability, Accuracy , Flexibility. Speed of text entry.Speed of text entry. Noise less than conventional keyboards.Noise less than conventional keyboards. The typing does not require a lot of force. So The typing does not require a lot of force. So

easing the strain on wrists and digits.easing the strain on wrists and digits. They are also made to be water proof and They are also made to be water proof and

hence less prone to damage when spills occur.hence less prone to damage when spills occur. Maintenance of the laser keyboards is much Maintenance of the laser keyboards is much

easier. easier.

DISADVANTAGESDISADVANTAGES

Tactile feel is not possible.Tactile feel is not possible.Dirty screens.Dirty screens.Virtual keyboards is hard to get used to. since it involves Virtual keyboards is hard to get used to. since it involves typing in thin air, hence it requires a little practice. Only typing in thin air, hence it requires a little practice. Only people who are good at typing can use it efficiently.people who are good at typing can use it efficiently.It is very costly ranging from 150-200 dollars.It is very costly ranging from 150-200 dollars.The room in which virtual keyboard is used should not be The room in which virtual keyboard is used should not be very bright so that the keyboard is properly visible.very bright so that the keyboard is properly visible.

FUTURE SCOPE & FUTURE SCOPE & IMPLEMENTATIONSIMPLEMENTATIONS

Laser keyboards can be embedded into Laser keyboards can be embedded into ATM’s.ATM’s.Laser keyboards can be used into space Laser keyboards can be used into space crafts as they are very lighter and smaller.crafts as they are very lighter and smaller.It can be embedded into digital lockers into It can be embedded into digital lockers into banks, hostels for entering passwords and banks, hostels for entering passwords and digital door lockers based on passwords.digital door lockers based on passwords.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Virtual Keyboard uses sensor technology and Virtual Keyboard uses sensor technology and artificial intelligence to let users work on any artificial intelligence to let users work on any surface as if it were a keyboard. Projection key surface as if it were a keyboard. Projection key boards or virtual key boards claim to provide the boards or virtual key boards claim to provide the convenience of convenience of compactnesscompactness with the advantages with the advantages of a full-blown QWERTY keyboard. Virtual of a full-blown QWERTY keyboard. Virtual Keyboard is designed for anyone who's become Keyboard is designed for anyone who's become frustrated with trying to put information into a frustrated with trying to put information into a handheld but doesn't want to carry a notebook handheld but doesn't want to carry a notebook computer around.computer around.

Thus virtual keyboards will make typing Thus virtual keyboards will make typing easier, faster, and almost a pleasure.easier, faster, and almost a pleasure.

REFERENCESREFERENCES

http://www.innovationworks.org/html/portfolio/virtual/virtual.jsp

http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/wo_fitzgerald111902.asp

http://www.canesta.comhttp://www.canesta.com www.smarttech.comwww.smarttech.com http://www.virtual-laserkeyboard.com/http://www.virtual-laserkeyboard.com/

demo.aspdemo.asp www.laser-keyboard.comwww.laser-keyboard.com