iKey's AK-39 wearable keyboard is about as weapon-like as it sounds
By Donald Melanson 
posted July 14th 2009 5:42PM
posted July 14th 2009 5:42PM
iKey's churned out plenty of rugged keyboards in its day, but it looks to have really stepped up its game with its new AK-39 wearable keyboard intended specifically for military use. Among other things, this one conforms to full MIL-461 standards, is able to be used in environments with harsh electromagnetic interference and, of particular importance, it's designed to be used with a glove, and in either left or right-hand configurations. As for the keyboard itself, you'll get a basic 39-key layout, an integrated pointing device that uses Force Sensing Resistor (or FSR) technology, and some adjustable green backlighting that is, naturally, also available with night vision compatibility. No word on pricing just yet, nor is there any indication that iKey will actually sell these to the general public.
[Via Test Freaks, thanks Nicholas R]
[Via Test Freaks, thanks Nicholas R]
I'd twitter from the front lines.
"/I put on my robe and wizard hat"
@Sisyphus Then you get shot in the head because you were busy finding letters on that horrid 11x4 grid-like wristboard.
They could have at least staggered the rows like a real keyboard.
Call me an asshole.
@s2m0 asshole
@Sisyphus I can see the twitter feeds booming from the wars zones like youtube.
@Sisyphus http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2010/3/19/subterfuge-and-social-media/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+pa-mainsite+%28Penny+Arcade%29&utm_content=Netvibes
By the by, this would look much better if it was a white leather glove covered in Swarovski crystals....
whoo!
@(Unverified)
MJ coulda Twittered while he was doing a concert. RIP MJ
@shadowj0
too soon..
@keanu096
I see what you did there. Hey, by the way, good job stopping the bus before the bomb went off.
It would be easier to use with gloves if the key were sticking out
If I tried to use the keyboard with that glove, I'd look like the Predator punching in a self destruct code.
There is nothing wrong with looking like a Predator.. just don't prey on little children.
Schwarzenegger
- Predator
- Aliens
Now all we need is invisibility and a weird proboscis like face. :p
You need to use the alt key for numbers!?
I think I'll stick with my Eclipse II thank you.
Yeah, I know. I love how the Eclipse II is designed to be worn on the wrist....oh wait, it's not. It's a full sized desktop keyboard, dumbass.
@curtisrutland Lmao i had to post just to say that
Excuse me for having manly wrists that an Eclipse II can be worn on -.-
And by manly you mean freakishly huge, right? Sorry, we don't have a military made of giants.... though it would be kinda cool
Looks like something out of Metal Gear Solid 4. Johnny "Akiba" Sasaki used something like this.
+1 i came into the comments looking for this.
@(Unverified) Same.
http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/1/1c/JohnnyMGS4.jpg
wow that is so messed up..
Looks like a Nintendo Power Glove:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Glove
I knew someone else would notice that it looks like a Power Glove. Now we just need Fred Savage playing Super Mario Bros 3 on a huge screen and we're all set!
You do know that this keyboard doesn't come with the glove, right?
Takes away from the whole point of it looking like a Power "Glove".
On the other hand, this is what Johnny (Akiba) from MGS4 wears. The shades
he wears also have LCD screens (to see the input obviously) and a wearable computer strapped
to his leg. He has no nanomachines in his body to keep in sync with his team, so he uses these items.
@(Unverified)
Well, isn't that just the bee's knees?
What?? Too old for ya? So's that Power Glove.
Does it come with a wearable computer? A keyboard by itself is useless.
@whatznext28
hrm - lets think about this. Did your last xbox controller come with an xbox? did your last wireless mouse come with a computer?
no - the wearable computer is something they already carry you fool. I'm thinking the company looked into that before releasing this.
wait for a pipboy.
I've got a mouse dangled round me right now, doesn't mean I'm wearing it.
This will be perfect for my one-handed typing habits.
We DON'T want to know...
While the potential applications of "one-handed typing" endeavors = gross...you're actually incorrect. This device necessitates using both arms (one to hold up the keyboard, the other to push the buttons). So you might have a free hand because it's not holding the keyboard, but the arm it's attached to will still be occupied functioning as a desk.
iPhone hack anyone?
Now you can play FPS games like Warriors!!!
http://www.club-nintendo.ch/boutique-2007/images/powerglove.jpg
Looks like it was pulled from an old Psion palmtop, haha.
If only they could make this into a glove, to work with the NES humm
I think I need that for gaming night!
"I love the AK-39 glove... It's sooo bad!"
I'd bet that Lucas uses it to kill terrorists.
I don't really understand.. there's no screen or anything.. what exactly are you entering?
Not long ago there was an article on an eye thingy that projects text/images on an eyepiece, meant for the battlefield, so this would then be the other half I guess.
So, you can text your squad that you're about to "bust a cap in this guy's ass, LOL". Bad enough people can't text and drive, but now text and shoot?
Might be handy to type in the coordinates of where to bomb while you are under fire, rather than trying to shout it in a radio where it gets misheard and they mortar their own positions.
@Wwhat Wouldn't it be easier to have an app for that? Push one button, xmits coordinates...
Pretty lame.
This should have been on the Modern Warfare 2 Prestige Edition then I would definitely buy!!!
Time for engadget to clean up their userbase before it's too late.
Not that I expect it can't be prevented that a site gets ruined eventually and people that don't care for that have to move on and find a new place, I'm not very optimistic with these things.
Orion!? Is that you?!