Sansun Silencer LED Lighted Keyboard that flashes when your cellphone rings
By Peter Rojas 
posted Apr 3rd 2005 3:19PM
posted Apr 3rd 2005 3:19PM
It's been a mighty long time since we've found an illuminated keyboard worth writing about, but ap0calypse has a
review of the Sansun Silencer LED Lighted Keyboard, which besides making it easier to tap away in a darkened room, also
lights up when your cellphone starts ringing (sounds similar to those
FlashStickers we mentioned a few months ago and that
Mobile Sensor Pen we wrote about a year ago). The
cellphone has to be within 16 inches of the keyboard's GSM signal sensor, but ap0calypse found that it definitely does
work, with the lights on the keyboard's number pad flashing on and off about a second before the phone started
ringing.
[Via I4U]
That there is a kick ass keyboard. ;)
I think it would be nicer if it was backlit like the new Powerbook keyboards. That thing looks too backlit, but the GSM signal sensor is keen!
I think it's useless to be honest. A for effort though.
the same thing happens when i place my GSM phone under my CRT monitor. the screen starts to shake 1 to 2 seconds before the phone actually starts rining. kinda cool actually
What about people with a sidekick, or a similar device that has a constant gsm connect? That keyboard would drive me crazy.
No one can release a keyboard that's backlit lit like Apple's because they own a patent on silver keys with backlighting - that said - a company called ennova owns a patent for ALL full key illumination and I suspect this keyboard also breaks that patent ... I know all of this because I tried to get a backlit keyboard made and was told by ennova that they were in the process of litigation against SEVERAL companies
Those devices have a constant data connection, but I don't believe they have a constant GSM connection.
GSM uses an electromagnetic component to the signal which is what sets these puppies off (and messes up your monitor or speakers if they're not properly shielded). GPRS (data) doesn't use the same type of signal.
this is what is wrong with the patent process in America, it is absolutely ridiculus that a company could own the patent to such a thing as a lighted keyboard. That patent should have been rejected summarilly.
I have a keyboard from Logisys Computer that is *extremely similar* to this one; in fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they both were assembled at the same plant in China.
The keyboard lights up bright, but it has got to be the one of the worse keyboards to type on. The reviewer wrote that the keys are loud and I agree. It sounds like "CLACK CLACK CLACK!" when I type.
Here's a movie of the keyboard lighting up from Logisys Computer's website: http://www.logisyscomputer.com/Driver/KB801.mpg
does this work for cdma phones? stupid verizon
#4,
Not only does my CRT shake, but an old pair of unpowered Sony desktop speakers start to buzz as well. It's ghostly, but cool.
a friend of mine was saved from embaressment in CS ones by his phone. what happend was the phone rang, the mouse reacted to the EM signal and the game registerd movement, this resulted in a headshot :P
that numpad is kinda cool in that it stays dark until a phone call and then goes into blinking with both blue and white leds :P
i must confess tho, hearing about how apple did the lighting of the laptop keyboards makes me want a laptop with that kind of solution. it basicly makes more sense to light up only the letters then the whole keyboard. still, it could be pulled of siliar to how this keyboard does it by useing dark keys that have transparent lettering (baiscly making transparent keys that is painted black except for the letters).
Question about the review: What's so freaking good about a USB keyboard as opposed to a PS/2 one? Hell, it's a keyboard! I use an IBM model M and it does everything I need over the PS/2 plug. What possible benefits does one derive from USB except for the use of an extra USB port? I do like the idea of this keyboard though, now if I only had a phone...
Seriously, I'm curious as to the whole USB/PS2 deal. Anyone?
# in respones to #11 by Suntiger
I believe that USB keyboards allow more featues on a keyboard, e.g. most new "mulitmedia" keyboards have a builtin scroll wheel and such, I don't think PS/2 allows this.
Also, if the keyboard has a builtin usb hub on the side, that can ve very convenient
You mean the middle mouse, or mouse3? PS/2 can do that.
Actually I have seen one truly useful application of this cellphone signal detection technology - at karaoke places in Taiwan. A message is displayed at the top of the TV screen telling you that a cellphone is ringing. Since no one can actually hear their phones ringing when friends are singing loudly (and not to mention poorly) - it's actually a pretty smart idea.
Anybody making a detector like this that's not bundled into a keyboard? I kind of like the idea, but I can't switch keyboards for it--I have a pretty out-there ergonomic keyboard. How about a simple USB dongle that pings the computer to notify me on the screen instead?
what an ugly keyboard, its so crass. Now if I designed one it would have only the letter lighting up, with an optional glow 'far off' undreneath the keys (like the speedometers/guages in some cars).
It would also be wireless and if I wanted a notification of my mobile going odd then I would like a teeny alert icon to appear which I could click and take on my PC's headset.
P.S. If your talking fancy I would further supplant the standard QWERTY layout and put OLED screen on each of the keys so that they could then show up the characters as italics, or pictures of my choice.