We've seen a few wacky
split keyboards in our day, and even the occasional
back-typing peripheral, but Microsoft Research has just congealed the core ideas into a why-didn't-I-think-of-that device for mobile use. Dubbed RearType, the QWERTY solution literally sticks a three-row keyboard on the back of a tablet PC, allowing users to have the same physical sensation as on laptop or desktop without taking up valuable touchscreen real estate. While there's still a few kinks to be worked out of the system (like how to set it down without triggering input) and no plans yet for commercial availability, a brief study showed users could attain 15WPM speeds on average with a single hour of training, and one participant managed to eke out a healthy 47WPM in the same timeframe. We imagine
a certain Motorola device is feeling a mite jealous right about now. See the front of the (non-Microsoft) tablet right after the break, and read the full study at our more coverage link.
posted August 10th 2010 8:58PM
wAcky Idea, oF couRse microSofT would make something like this
@antyhil119 Microsoft should revive the courier instead of this...
@antyhil119 I HaTe WhEn PeOPLe TypE LiKeTHis
@liftedngifted1 You mean the over-hyped sort of proof of concept that would have a very low battery life and unrealistic software? Yeah, they certainly would have lots of work to do to get anything near a product.
@Schmich
"that would have a very low battery life and unrealistic software"
How can you say that? You have no proof of the what so ever. You would be surprised at what technology is capable of. Sure, to us it may seem unrealistic and a battery drainer, but Microsoft puts money in R&D, and some day (maybe even today), the technology can exist to make the courier a viable product.
@antyhil119 This is what counts as "research" at Microsoft these days? That's just an ergodex DX1 http://www.ergodex.com/ mounted to the back of a MID with some Velcro and electrical tape.
@liftedngifted1
Everybody talk about Courier....What is the Big deal about it?
Courier is just awesome concept which Microsoft should not drop out.
.........I miss it....
@liftedngifted1
This is the stupidest fucking idea I've ever seen...
@shep
So when researching Interface concepts you'd prefer they produce fully fleshed out, custom hardware before they've even tested the general concept with some jury rigged device?
@DoctarPeppar
I don't see the stupidity. how much space is taken on your ipad because of the keyboard. Allocating the buttons to the back will save space and are you really using the back of your pad for anything? All they have to do is make the buttons flatter and you should be fine
@shep I was wondering if anyone else noticed that. God, I hope they don't resurrect the Ergodex company. Horrible software support, they didn't update it beyond XP, even though they've been in Vista "beta" test for what, almost 3 years? I want my $150 back..
@antyhil119
Is that ALL NEW Kin qwerty keyboard? (giggle)
Microsoft just doesn't get it.
Oh please God no! I'm a hunter and a pecker; please don't make me learn how to type.
@liftedngifted1
Speaking of ass backwards...
In theory, there's nothing wrong with putting a keyboard at the rear, but it will surely take quite a bit of determined practice to master. It's certainly doable for someone who is willing to throw convention to the wind. Honestly, I don't see a rear keyboard catching on, though.
@antyhil119
Must be cool to have a job where you get to figure out how to make stuff then sell it.
@Ryujin
There's plenty room for the on-screen keyboard, it only takes about 1/3 of the screen, which leaves 2/3 to display the content. For e-mailing or posting on Engadget that's fine, if you want to write your manuscript on an iPad you are insane anyway, but even then you'd be better off with the keyboard dock.
Really, this idea is a solution in search of a problem, and it's a bad one. It's not ergonomic or practical since you can only hold the tablet 1 way, you will probably f*ck up your wrists from the awkward position, it's not pretty, it will get dirty when you lay down the device and last but not least: it's not necessary for anything. Typing on a good on-screen keyboard works great, no need to mess up your device to make it 'better'.
@antyhil119 Windows had detected you do not have a keyboard. Press "F9" to continue...
@DoctarPeppar
This is the Grope Pro version. The Grope Home version includes a bolt-on wing mirror so you can see the keys.
@shep It's not *just* an ergodex, it's Microsoft proudly marching forward, "inventing" a concept that was previously invented, designed, built, tested, and brought to market in Korea as the E-lead Noahpad by a small firm mainly involved in the Korean auto industry.
How practical.
@leafflash exactly.
@aamani
SOiefjSDFIenvjksfoe9FEL
... oops.. sorry, set down my tablet..
@Hoobaloo Actually if you set your keyboard down on the keys eventually one character would just repeat. Unless...you set it down on a pile of Smarties then picked it right back up again...no...no that wouldn't account for the caps lock going of and on. I'm at a loss here...
@Hoobaloo
Wait till they add an orientation sensor combined with touch sensors on the back of the frame. That way, the tablet will know if it is being used (for reartype) or not. Of course you can think of low tech solutions like a photo-frame kind of stand which will prevent unintended reartype.
@leafflash I know. Sheesh. Microsoft funnels money into R&D which produces crap like this - and in the end, none of it even materializes. Stakeholders should be overjoyed!
@iKid
This was a sumer students project and he failed.
Hmmmmm as long as someone already typed correctly, the learning curve shouldn't be too steep. +1 Microsoft for pursuing something outside the box
@forHim247 this is indeed outside the box. i giggled for a bit, and then when u think about it, it could work on mobile phones if they were touch based with bump indicator and the learning curve should be pretty easy. i just tested it on my phone, and it makes sense and its fast if you memorized the letters.
@forHim247
The problem is that this type of approach requires a significant investment of the user to learn. The Dvorak keyboard is a great example of a better and more efficient typing input system but its used by less than 5% of typists and 0.1% of computer users. There is also the problem of critical mass. If this is not the default input system, then people will use the input system they are used to. If it is the default, people won't buy it in the first place unless they are willing to dedicate significant time to learn it. There is also the problem of it requiring tactile input. This is essential for touch typists but even they have peripheral vision scanning of the keyboard which lets them accommodate small variations. Lastly, carpel tunnel syndrome is a major problem for professional (and amateur) typists. This approach requires the user to hold the tablet as well as type. Not good for long periods of typing (and what is the point if this is only for short input periods where a screen keyboard is just fine?).
The next iteration of input technologies are improving flat screen input (like Swype). The next revolution in input technologies will probably be voice based (like the tech that Siri uses).
I did think about this, but no one will believe me now :/
@wemustcontrolpeople
Next time get a patent for it... oh wait, someone would just steal it from you claiming it was theirs first... I wonder who that is?
@Special Agent Steve. Me
@Lord Vader I hope you patented the Death Star seems some companies are cashing in on that :)
@wemustcontrolpeople me too. I even mentioned it in some comment thread somewhere. I was actually thinking about the controllers on a PSP, though - I was thinking 'hey, you could make that giant screen even *bigger* if you just stick the controls on the back'.
Can anyone actually envision a product that this would be useful in?
@bleep
Perhaps a Tablet peripheral? So you can hold it and take notes.
@Anguigen
Only if the product *has* to be a tablet. I know tablets are sexy now but isn't this a solution in search of a problem?
@bleep
It is actually a very good solution for tablet users. Just spend a little time for self-training then we can type as fast as using a normal keyboard.
If manufacturers can make that keyboard to have the size as a normal keyboard and as thin as the keypad on a mobile phone (or 1/4 of the thickness of a Macbook keyboard), it will be a very attractive selling point to me.
@Rockchan I think the keyboard your looking for is the acer chiclet keyboard like on the aspire series
@bleep It will be useful when for our robot overlords, being immune to carpal tunnel syndrome, for circumstances of assigning humans to work details and death camps.
@bleep
fps games using keyboard
@bleep
ergonomics
@bleep No this is a solution to a real problem-touch screen keyboards suck balls.
@bleep make the keys capacitive with bumps and ridges :D
@bleep make the keys capacitive with bumps and ridges :D
Would look cool in a sci fi movie but that is about all I can think of in terms of uses...
@bleep
It would look as though you were playing an accordion, if that is your idea of cool. Tom Cruise would probably love it.
The keys are vertical in the image above, IMO they would be better horizontally..Should be very easy to use then without a learning curve (if you already type well i.e.)
@iswapnil90 Brilliant job my MS though :)