Virtual Keyboard

VIRTUAL KEYBOARD

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Introduction

Virtual Keyboard is just another example of today’s computer trend of "smaller
and faster". Computing is now not limited to desktops and laptops, it has found its way
into mobile devices like palm tops and even cell phones. But what has not changed for
the last 50 or so odd years is the input device, the good old QWERTY keyboard.
Alternatives came in the form of handwriting recognition, speech recognition, abcd input
(for SMS in cell phones) etc. But they all lack the accuracy and convenience of a fullblown
keyboard. Speech input has an added issue of privacy. Even folded keyboards for
PDAs are yet to catch on. Thus a new generation of virtual input devices is now being
paraded, which could drastically change the way we type.
Virtual Keyboard uses sensor technology and artificial intelligence to let users
work on any surface as if it were a keyboard. Virtual Devices have developed a
flashlight-size gadget that projects an image of a keyboard on any surface and let’s
people input data by typing on the image.
The device detects movement when fingers are pressed down. Those
movements are measured and the device accurately determines the intended keystrokes
and translates them into text. The Virtual Keyboard uses light to project a full-sized
computer keyboard onto almost any surface, and disappears when not in use. The
translation process also uses artificial intelligence. Once the keystroke has been decoded,
it is sent to the portable device either by cable or via wireless.


Fig 3.1: Virtual keyboard used in PDA’s
The Virtual Keyboard uses light to project a full-sized computer keyboard
onto almost any surface, and disappears when not in use. Used with Smart Phones and
PDAs, it provides a practical way to do email, word processing and spreadsheet tasks,
allowing the user to leave the laptop computer at home. The technology has many
applications in various high-tech and industrial Sectors. These include data entry and
control panel applications in hazardous and harsh environments and medical markets.

Projection key boards or virtual key boards claim to provide the convenience
of compactness with the advantages of a full-blown QWERTY keyboard. An interesting
use of such keyboards would be in sterile environments where silence or low noise is
essential like operation theaters. The advantage of such a system is that you do not need a
surface for typing, you can even type in plain air. The company's Virtual Keyboard is
designed for anyone who's become frustrated with trying to put information into a
handheld but doesn't want to carry a notebook computer around. There is also the
provision for a pause function to avoid translating extraneous hand movements function,
so that users can stop to eat, drink etc
It is also a superior desktop computer keyboard featuring dramatically easier
to learn touch-typing and leaving one hand free for mouse or phone. Combination key
presses ("chords") of five main and two extra control keys allow users to type at 25-60
words per minute, with possibly greater speeds achieved through the use of abbreviation
expansion software. Most users, however, will find memorizing the chords easy and fun,
with the included typing tutorial. The scanner can keep up with the fastest typist,
scanning the projected area over 50 times a second. The keyboard doesn't demand a lot of
force, easing strain on wrists and digits. virtual keyboards solve the problem of sore
thumbs that can be caused by typing on the tiny keyboards of various gadgets like PDAs
and cell phones. They are meant to meet the needs of mobile computer users struggling
with cumbersome, tiny, or nonexistent keyboards. It might help to prevent RSI injuries.
The Virtual Keyboard uses an extremely durable material which is extremely
easy to clean. The Virtual Keyboard is not restricted to the QWERTY touch-typing
paradigm , adjustments can be done to the software to fit other touch-typing paradigms as
well, such as the DVORAK keyboard. It will work with all types of Bluetooth enabled
devices such as PDAs and smart phones, as well as wearable computers. Applications
include computer/PDA input, gaming control, TV remote control, and musical
applications.Thus virtual keyboards will make typing easier, faster, and almost a
pleasure.

Virtual Keyboard Technology

This system comprises of three modules,
1. The sensor module,
2. IR-light source and
3. The pattern projector.

Sensor module:

The Sensor Module serves as the eyes of the Keyboard Perception technology.
The Sensor Module operates by locating the user's fingers in 3-D space and tracking the
intended keystrokes, or mouse movements. Mouse tracking and keystroke information is
processed and can then be output to the host device via a USB or other interface.

Electronic Perception Technology:

Electronic perception technology enables ordinary electronic devices to “see” the
world around them so they can perceive and interact with it. Now everyday electronic
devices in a variety of markets can perceive users’ actions, gainingfunctionality and ease
of use.
The tiny electronic perception chips and embedded software work by developing
a 3D “distance map” to nearby objects in real-time. This information is factored through
an on-chip processor running imaging software that translates the image into defined
events before sending it offchip for application-specific processing. It’s an action that is
continually repeated, generating over 30 frames of 3D information per second.
Electronic perception technology has a fundamental advantage over classical
image processing that struggles to construct three-dimensional representations using
complex mathematics and images from multiple cameras or points of view. This singlechip
“contour mapping” approach results in a high reduction of complexity, making it
possible to embed the application independent processing software directly into the chips
themselves – so they may be used in the most modestly-priced, and even pocket-sized
electronic devices.

IR-light source:

-light source

The Infrared Light Source emits a beam of infrared light. This light beam is
designed to overlap the area on which the keyboard pattern projector or printed image
resides. This is done so as to illuminate the users fingers by the infra-red light beam. This
helps in recognizing the hand movements and the pressing of keys. The light beam
facilitates in scanning the image. Accordingly the information is passed on to the sensor
module which decodes the information.
An invisible infra-red beam is projected above the virtual keyboard. Finger makes
keystroke on virtual keyboard. This breaks infrared beam and infrared light is reflected
back to projector. Reflected infrared beam passes through infrared filter to camera. The
camera photographs angle of incoming infrared light. The Sensor chip in the sensor
module determines where the infrared beam was broken. detected co-ordinates determine
actions or characters to be generated.

The pattern projector:

The Pattern Projector or optional printed image presents the image of the
keyboard or mouse zone of the system. This image can be projected on any flat surface.
The projected images is that of a standard qwerty keyboard, with all the keys and control
functions as in the keyboard.
The Projector features a wide-angle lens so that a large pattern can be projected
from relatively low elevations. A printed image, with replaceable templates allows
system flexibility, permitting most any kind of keyboard configuration for greater
functionality.
In some types of virtual keyboards, a second infra-red beam is not necessary.
Here the projector itself takes the inputs, providing dual functionality. A sensor or camera
in the projector picks up the finger movements, and passes the information on to the
sensor modules.


Types

There are different types of virtual keyboards, manufactured by various companies which
provide different levels of functionalities. The different types of virtual keyboards are:


Developer VKB
Developer VKB
Its full-size keyboard also can be projected onto any surface and uses laser
technology to translate finger movements into letters. Working with Siemens
Procurement Logistics Services Rechargeable batteries similar to those in cell phones
power the compact unit . The keyboard is full size and the letters are in a standard format.
As a Class 1 laser, the output power is below the level at which eye injury can occur.


Canesta
The Canesta Keyboard, which is a laser projected keyboard with which the
same laser is also used to scan the projection field and extract 3D data. Hence, the user
sees the projected keyboard, and the device "sees" the position of the fingers over the
projected keys. They also have a chip set, Electronic Perception Technology, which they
supply for 3rd parties to develop products using the projection/scanning technology.
Canesta appears to be the most advanced in this class of technology and the only one who
is shipping product. They have a number of patents pending on their technology.

Fig 3.6: Canesta Keyboard


Sense board Technologies
The Senseboard SB 04 technology is an extreme case of a hybrid approach.
The sensing transducer is neither a laser scanner nor a camera. Rather, it is a braceletlike
transducer that is worn on the hands which captures hand and finger motion. In fact,
as demonstrated, the technology does not incorporate a projection component at all;
rather, it relies on the user's ability to touch type, and then infers the virtual row and key
being typed by sensing relative hand and finger movement. The system obviously could
be augmented to aid non-touch typists, for example, by the inclusion of a graphic
representation of the virtual keyboard under the hands/fingers. In this case, the keyboard
graphically represented would not be restricted to a conventional QWERTY keyboard,
and the graphical representation could be projected or even on a piece of paper. I include
it here, as it is a relevant related input transducer that could be used with a projection
system. The technology has patents pending, and is currently in preproduction proof of
Concept form.

Senseboard Technologies

Sensors made of a combination of rubber and plastic are attached to the user's
palms in such a way that they do not interfere with finger motions. Through the use of
Bluetooth technology, the "typed" information is transferred wirelessly to the computer,
where a word processing program analyzes and interprets the signals into readable text.
The device is currently usable via existing ports on personal digital assistants (PDAs)
from Palm and other manufacturers. Senseboard officials say it eventually will be
compatible with most brands of pocket PCs, mobile phones and laptop computers.


KITTY,
a finger-mounted keyboard for data entry into PDA's, Pocket PC's
and Wearable Computers which has been developed at the University of California in
Irvine.
Fig 3.8: Kitty
KITTY, an acronym for Keyboard-Independent Touch-Typing, is a Finger
mounted keyboard that uses touch typing as a method of data entry. The device targets
the portable computing market and in particular its wearable computing systems which
are in need of a silent invisible data entry system based on touch typing .the new device
combines the idea of a finger mounted coding device with the advantages of a system that
uses touch typing.


InFocus is one of the leading companies in providing video and data
projectors. Their projectors are conventional, in that they do not use laser technology.
This has that advantage of delivering high quality colour images with a mature
technology. However, it has the disadvantage of larger size, lower contrast, and higher
power requirements, compared to laser projection systems. In 2000, InFocus merged
with Proxima, which had been one of its competitors. I include InFocus/Proxima in this
survey not only because they make projectors. In their early days, Proxima developed
one of the first commercially available projection/vision systems. It was called Cyclops,
and they still hold a patent on the technology. Cyclops augmented the projector by
adding a video camera that was registered to view the projection area. The video camera
had a band pass filter over the lens, which passed only the wavelength of a laser pointer.
The system, therefore, enabled the user to interact with the projected image, using a
provided laser pointer as the input device. The camera detected the presence of the laser
pointer on the surface, and calculated its coordinates relative to the currently projected
image. Furthermore, the laser pointer had two intensity levels which enabled the user to
not only point, but to have the equivalent of a mouse button, by the vision system
interpreting the two levels as distinguishing button up and down events.


ADVANTAGES

1. It can be projected on any surface or you can type in the plain air.
2. It can be useful in places like operation theaters where low noise is essential.
3. The typing does not require a lot of force. So easing the strain on wrists and
hands.
4. The Virtual Keyboard is not restricted to the QWERTY touch-typing
paradigm, adjustments can be done to the software to fit other touch-typing
paradigms as well.
5. No driver software necessary, It can be used as a plug and play device.
6. High battery life. The standard coin-sized lithium battery lasts about eight
months before needing to be replaced.


DRAWBACKS

1. Virtual keyboard is hard to get used to. Since it involves typing in thin air, it
requires a little practice. Only people who are good at typing can use a
virtual keyboard efficiently.
2. It is very costly ranging from 150 to 200 dollars.
3. The room in which the projected keyboard is used should not be very bright
so that the keyboard is properly visible.


APPLICATIONS

1. High-tech and industrial Sectors
2. Used with Smart phones, PDAs, email, word processing and spreadsheet
tasks.
3. Operation Theatres.
4. As computer/PDA input.
5. Gaming control.
6. TV remote control.


CONCLUSION

Virtual Keyboard uses sensor technology and artificial intelligence to let users
work on any surface as if it were a keyboard. Projection key boards or virtual key boards
claim to provide the convenience of compactness with the advantages of a full-blown
QWERTY keyboard. The company's Virtual Keyboard is designed for anyone who's
become frustrated with trying to put information into a handheld but doesn't want to carry
a notebook computer around.
Canesta appears to be the most advanced in this class of technology. Different
types of virtual keyboards suit different typing styles. Thus virtual keyboards will make
typing easier, faster, and almost a pleasure.