Low-Cost Invisible Computer Mouse
A team from MIT's Media Lab needed only a few dollars to create their latest invention - an invisible computer mouse.
Researchers Pranav Mistry, Pattie Maes and Liyan Chang used an infrared laser beam and infrared tracking camera to develop a system that reads the movement of a user's hand and then translates it onto the display in form of a cursor.
It is worth mentioning that the laser beam's plane is aimed slightly above the surface of the user area and after the user's hand takes the form as if it is holding a computer mouse, the beam breaks at the points where each finger comes into contact with the surface.
Afterwards the infrared tracking camera registers the movements of the hand and interprets them accordingly. The camera can identify such actions as clicking and double-clicking.
Currently the team is working on improving the tracking and identification algorithms in their latest invention in order to obtain a large list of different commands, which could lead in the future to multi-touch gesturing.
The developers claim that their system has cost $20. Check out the video below to see how the system works.
Watch the video:
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Also
Celluon Laserkey CL850 - Projection Keyboard
Overview
As the world's most innovative projection keyboard, the Laserkey CL850 has revolutionised mobile data input. Now users can enter SMS messages, emails and texts just as easily on the go as when using a conventional keyboard. By means of a laser, the Laserkey CL850 projects a full-scale keyboard equipped with a mouse feature (depending on operating system) onto any opaque, flat surface.
The keystrokes are then identified based on the combined input of a sensor and an invisible infrared layer. The connection to Palm, Pocket PC, Smart Phone or PC is set up via a user-friendly Bluetooth hot plug function or via the serial port. The pocket-sized CL800BT is powered by a compact, powerful lithium-ion battery.
What’s in the Box
The Celluon Laserkey CL850 is a wireless virtual keyboard that lifts wireless mobile communications to a new height. The Laserkey is a smart, pocket-size device that projects a full-size keyboard through infrared technology onto any flat surface. Users could then type on the infrared images as if typing on conventional keyboards.
Based on the QWERTY layout, the 19
mm keys of the Laserkey CL850 enables highly sensitive and accurate input of data on the go, compared to existing technologies such as Graffiti or Thumb keyboards in mobile input performance. The Laserkey CL850 is smaller than most traditional keyboards and easy to carry along with your mobile device.
With the absence of physical buttons, the Laserkey relieves the user from fatigue and helps minimize the ergonomic discomfort inherent in other traditional data input keyboards.
Laserkey's wireless capabilities with built-in Bluetooth enables a cable free connection with other Bluetooth-embedded applications such as PDA's, Smart Phones or PC's. The Laserkey CL850 also has no moving components, and thus more reliable compared to other technologies that encompass numerous mechanical parts.
Keyboard project specifications:
Light Source: Red laser diode.
19mm sized QWERTY / AZERTY / QWERTZ layout.
Keyboard Size: Approx. 304mm*105mm.
Keyboard Position: Approx 100mm from keyboard device.
Projection Surface: Non-reflective, opaque flat surface.
Keyboard Stroke: Built in buzzer (mute on / off the sound).
Visibility: Visible in 1000-5000 lux ambient light.
Keyboard sensor specifications:
Illumination: Visible in incandescent light of 1800 lux or more.
Detection Rate: Up to 400 characters per minute.
Effective Key Stoke: Approx 2mm.
Operating Surface: Any flat surface.
System Requirements:
Windows Mobile Pocket PC & Smart Phone Edition.
Symbian.
Palm OS.
BlackBerry.
Windows 2000/XP or higher.
Review
Keyboard functions reasonably well. You may have to adjust to not having any tactile response to typing, as there are no actual keys being depressed. Also be aware that accuracy is important and calibrating the sensitivity for different surfaces/lighting conditions is required, but easy.
Start tapping your fingers on the desk if you want to know what it feels like typing on this thing. It reflects infrared light off your fingers to a sensor to identify keystrokes, therefore reflective/shiny surfaces.
This keyboard would be great in areas where you need to keep a clean working environment i.e. a hospital, car garage or anywhere where space is a problem.
The only downside as I can see could be wear and tear on fingertips! I would recommend projecting onto a bouncy surface like a plain mouse mat or rubber.
Source:
Celluon LaserKey CL850 Bluetooth Wireless Laser Projection Virtual Keyboard - Free Shipping - DealExtreme
Celluon Laserkey CL850 – Projection Keyboard, 30/11/09, GadgetLab
Invisible Computer Mouse
Originally Posted by street_of_no_return
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