Hands-on with Amex's "Touch Sense" Keyboard and Skype dual-phone

If you're coming here to find out if Amex was able to deliver on the promise to "deliver the ultimate in feel and response" from a touch-sensitive keyboard, well, you'll have to check back later. They showed up at CeBIT with plastic mock-ups, not working prototypes -- still, that's more than we can say for others. The visit wasn't a complete waste, however. We now know that "Touch Sense" equates to a Cypress developed haptic interaction solution whereby each key-tap triggers a brief flash of light and sound. Although we knew that the TSK-VX7 keyboard has small, we were still surprised to see just how crazy small and slim the device plastic mockup really is. Even the price is small at something like $25 when it ships. That makes the pear-shaped TSP-VS501 all the more chubby in contrast. My, my what sneaky marketers you use for your product shots Amex. See 'em all in the gallery below.

Gallery: Hands-on with Amex's "Touch Sense" Keyboard and Skype dual-phone

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[craig @ Mar 16th 2007 5:22PM]

"..."deliver the ultimate in feel and response" from a touch-sensitive keyboard..."

Aren't all keyboards touch sensitive? If not, how do they work?

Just what I wanted...all the bulk of a conventional keyboard and none of the tactile feedback. I wonder if it's full of multitouch goodness (or does it take the genius of Apple to accomplish that).

[NarfPointZort @ Mar 17th 2007 3:06PM]

Um... that was dumb. We're talking about a digitizer here. Not funny, kiddo.

[NarfPointZort @ Mar 17th 2007 3:08PM]

Also, it would *have* to feature the ability to recognize multiple touches simultaneously. How else are you going to use your shift, control, and alt keys? The sticky-keys utility?

[Mike D @ Mar 16th 2007 6:11PM]

why on earth would anyone in their right mind deliberately design a keyboard with absolutely no tactile feedback???!!!

[bill @ Mar 16th 2007 10:08PM]

ah yes, the good old days. reminds me of the speak'n'spell... good times... good times...

[wayLAN @ Mar 17th 2007 12:27PM]

The phone looks like an at&t cordless phone. It's actually just looks rebranded....

[craig @ Mar 17th 2007 3:17PM]

Your sarcasm sensor could use a tune-up, "kiddo". Where did you get the idea that there's a digitizer here? It's not in the article nor suggested in the pictures.

As for being dumb, show me a keyboard that isn't sensitive to touch or happily wear that label yourself.