Glass keyboard concept opts for cameras instead of keys

While we can't say it's our notion of an ideal keyboard, we've still got to admire designer Kong Fanwen's ability to throw any sense of practicality to the wind and ditch the whole idea of keys with his new "No-key Keyboard" concept. In the place of that tried and true typing mechanism, this keyboard would instead make use of a camera and the "latest motion capture technology" to watch your fingers' movement and capture all the right keystrokes (ideally). On the upside, that'd apparently make the keyboard fully waterproof, and it'd apparently come with some snazzy lighting options to help you find those non-existent keys in the dark.

[Via Pocket-lint]

[Adam @ Jun 12th 2008 2:54PM]

Might feel a bit better if they made small tiny glass inlays that were raised up from the surface a little with small degree of concavity

[bohsocks @ Jun 12th 2008 3:15PM]

It shouldn't be a problem seeing as how they've already made it so the keyboard floats in mid-air.

[derX @ Jun 12th 2008 3:44PM]

I'm really not getting the users of this site.

The iPhone has a virtual keyboard, which doesn't provide tactile feedback (I'm ignoring the space constraints because I seldom hear complaints about the size of it) and people say it's a crappy idea and blast it. These people have a tactile-less keyboard and now it's a great idea....wtf?

This is some odd anti-Engadget behavior......

[rock99rock @ Jun 12th 2008 4:17PM]

Quit. Mentioning. Iphone.

[Jason @ Jun 12th 2008 5:47PM]

I'll quit mentioning iphone if you'll stop puking out extra punctation.

[Ian @ Jun 12th 2008 5:55PM]

Actually derX seems to have a valid point here.. which is odd because he brought up the iphone again. damn it

[DWells55 @ Jun 12th 2008 10:35PM]

Perhaps because the iPhone is a portable device and using an on-screen keyboard allows for a full keyboard without increasing the size of the device or decreasing the size of the screen. I certainly don't like not having tactile feedback, but in this case it was worth the sacrifice.

This keyboard concept is just impractical.

[Ayman @ Jun 13th 2008 1:18AM]

This wont work
because you would be typing ON A HARD SURFACE.
(a couple of years back they did an IR Keyboard that displayed a keyboard on almost any flat surface, ... it didn't work because peoples fingers where bleeding from typing on a hard surface. (notice how the keyboards have buttons that absorb the shock of the impact of each finger, they might have ABS, suspension in the keyboards that we are not aware of, or even airbags)

[aardvark sandwich @ Jun 12th 2008 2:54PM]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2308/2451660021_32aff6638b.jpg?v=0

[DoctaDJones @ Jun 12th 2008 3:35PM]

I don't think that picture works; the dog clearly succeeded in eating all of those Cheez-It's, he just didn't have an exit strategy. So it should say "Mission Accomplished", not "Fail".

wait ... wasn't there something about a keyboard ...

[OneLove @ Jun 12th 2008 3:46PM]

My pecker never has an exit strategy...."Mission Accomplished". :)

[Tarnation @ Jun 12th 2008 2:55PM]

I guess this will kind of be like the laser keyboard. It would be so much easier to keep clean.

[letstakeawalk @ Jun 12th 2008 3:16PM]

Exactly what I came here to mention.

http://www.virtual-laser-keyboard.com/

[GJunco @ Jun 13th 2008 9:58AM]

just windex your keyboard and it will shine like new!

[Alex @ Jun 12th 2008 2:57PM]

Ouch.

[Paul @ Jun 12th 2008 2:59PM]

I would definitely buy that if it were reasonably priced.

[SubHumanSniper @ Jun 12th 2008 2:59PM]

Bundle this with a matching wireless transparent glass mouse and I would buy it. Heck, I'd even spring for the outlandish overnight shipping fees just to have it that much sooner. Anything see-thru is neato.

[peekinde @ Jun 12th 2008 3:05PM]

how about a see thru lcd display
i call it: window

[Krush @ Jun 12th 2008 5:01PM]

"mouse" is so 20th century - multitouch ftw

[Julian @ Jun 12th 2008 3:00PM]

Do the dismembered hands come with the keyboard or are those sold separately? If they are not included its a deal breaker for me.

[fourthletter @ Jun 12th 2008 3:03PM]

YES YES YES but why ?

[Niki @ Jun 12th 2008 3:03PM]

well half of me wants...


half is going to wait until it has a LCARS interface =]

[natels @ Jun 12th 2008 3:10PM]

So is it just called a board?

[iHoppipolla @ Jun 12th 2008 4:34PM]

Good point. Keyboard pane?

[Viru @ Jun 12th 2008 3:13PM]

Another pain to the fingers like Virtual laser keyboards.

[Eric Kolb @ Jun 12th 2008 3:14PM]

Awesome. I thought my WPM was starting to get too high. Now I can bring it back down again by having to look at my keyboard every two seconds.

[Rick @ Jun 12th 2008 3:18PM]

Another device which goes to prove that people who live in glass huts shouldn't stow thrones.

[Ian @ Jun 12th 2008 3:25PM]

shouldn't stow thrones?

[Tim The Enchanter @ Jun 12th 2008 4:11PM]

@Rick: Hahaha... nice.
@Ian: Rick got a prototype of the glass board, it seems.

[Ian @ Jun 12th 2008 5:56PM]

ahh Tim, how you must be right

[Paradox @ Jun 12th 2008 3:23PM]

looks very nice. but how much?

[Kurian @ Jun 12th 2008 3:23PM]

Shit i broke my keyboard!

[Bob @ Jun 12th 2008 3:34PM]

For anyone that has never used a "touch" keyboard, they are terrible. Tactile feedback is an important aspect of user interface design and it's almost completely lost on touch interfaces (the touch keyboard I used at least had two bumps to keep you from drifting too far). If someone could invent a touch interface that also could provide programmable tactile feedback, now that would be something.

[rlynd3 @ Jun 12th 2008 3:48PM]

like this?!

http://www.redferret.net/?p=9533

[PGP-Protector @ Jun 12th 2008 3:35PM]

I'll pass how will it know if I'm pressing the keys or just holding my fingers in the correct typing position ?

I don't know about all of you, but when I type I like having the tactile feedback of the key press, and also keep multiple fingers on the keyboard at any one time.

[Low Ranked @ Jun 12th 2008 6:30PM]

On the contrary, I keep both my feet on mine.

[mackid @ Jun 12th 2008 3:42PM]

Sweet! I'm in for 3!
I'll be honest i've always wanted something like this its a great idea, except when you're the angry german kid then you just get glass shards everywhere. But for the everyday person a glass keyboard shouldn't be a problem just keep out of reach of children. As long as the key detection system works i'll definitely buy this keyboard..... now if i could just get a nice HD monitor thats the same thickness plus touch-screen I'd be set!

[ijyt @ Jun 12th 2008 3:44PM]

It's stylish, but yeah, tactile response.


I hope the near future brings holographic keyboards, or hell entire computers, with some sort of feedback.

Also wrist mounted.

And glowy.

[Jimmy @ Jun 12th 2008 3:48PM]

DO. NOT. WANT.

[Sarah @ Jun 12th 2008 3:48PM]

I think this is really cool except that I will always like the feel of the keys when I type.

[Haikibutsu @ Jun 12th 2008 4:01PM]

Maybe instead of printed, instead how about instead putting a black and white screen? Not to mention since it uses black and white screen, its a lot cheaper than full colour?

[TavisJohn @ Jun 12th 2008 8:24PM]

Forget black and white, make it FULL COLOR!
Can we say, Optimus Killer?

I am sure a single fullcolor display would be cheaper to produce than the Optimus many tiny display keyboard... AND will make the Optimus look crappy!

"What do you mean you can only change what each key looks like? My keyboard can have a compleatly different layout! I can even have LCars on it if I want!"

[compufxr @ Jun 12th 2008 4:11PM]

What happens when I throw it against the wall? When it breaks does it break into big chunks or is it like a car window and when it breaks it forms thousands of tiny pieces of razor sharp glass?

[ijyt @ Jun 12th 2008 4:23PM]

Why would you..

[Jash Sayani @ Jun 12th 2008 4:18PM]

I am really waiting for some cool commercial product like this one !!!
Wanted to have one of these from ages......

[Low Ranked @ Jun 12th 2008 6:31PM]

Yes, but from which ages?

[Danakin @ Jun 12th 2008 4:32PM]

looks freaking awesome, but the idea is just impracticle...there is nothing wrong with a regular keyboard...how is making one out of glass improving my life?

[fourthletter @ Jun 12th 2008 4:42PM]

Sure apple didn't have a hand in this, it really shows a Steve like love of form over function.

Reminds me of that much shared render a design student did a while ago of an all glass imac with glass keyboard

[IHoppipolla @ Jun 12th 2008 4:43PM]

So the camera would be mounted underneath?

Intriguing, completely impractical idea and would this require a certain type of desk?

Where would my legs go?

Oh, and I want it.

[Jherez @ Jun 12th 2008 4:40PM]

Well considering that this thing floats in mid air you'd probably have to sell your legs to buy it. So there...problem solved.