Microsoft Shows Tablet With 'RearType Keyboard'

[bergieberg]

Everyone needs to relax. This is just something from their research department saying, "Hey, we don't like touchscreen typing either and want to think up a better way." Obviously this isn't going to happen, but at least they're thinking outside the box a bit. Or maybe behind it.

 

[Guest]

Ker-flop.

 

[cobra5000]

Seems like it would cause hand fatigue typing like that.

 

[Hothr]

This is awesome. I can type 45 wpm without trying, and 55-65 after typing for a while.
I don't care where my hands are, just the relative position of the keys. I get really exited about rear typing when it is done right. 1 hour seems like plenty of time to adjust. I have used Ergonomic keyboards, split keyboards, frogpad, Dvorak, shift-single-hand, capacitive, blackberry, and ipod touch. Qwerty is qwerty, and tactile buttons are better. I don't need to see the buttons, I know where they are.
Combine this with a rear touch screen, so I don't block/smudge my screen, and I will be as happy as a clam.

 

[dEAne]

it's kind of a unique but it is good, i predict holographic touch will be next.

 

[ravewulf]

Space bar?

 

[belardo]

I got an idea for a mod of this tablet.

Have the keyboard fold from the screen! You'd have to set it down of course, providing a solid typing surface.

Nobody has ever thought of this.

 

[Matthias99]

"Have the keyboard fold from the screen! You'd have to set it down of course, providing a solid typing surface.

Nobody has ever thought of this."

...you mean a convertible tablet/notebook with a foldout keyboard? Seen plenty of those. IBM and Toshiba have been selling them for over a decade.

This is actually a pretty clever idea. The point is that you can type while holding the thing in your hands and being able to see most or all of the screen. Probably needs some more work, but it's interesting. Maybe you could manage a design that could be used both like that and as a fold-out keyboard.

And for the people saying "what about when you set it down?" -- presumably it would use a proximity sensor of some sort to turn off the keyboard, just like touchscreen phones turn off the touchscreen when you put the phone to your ear. Or maybe you could use a sensor/switch so that the keyboard only activates when you grip the phone the right way.

 

[victomofreality]

I can see it working out nicely once you retrain yourself to use it.

 

[belardo]

My "joke" was that my idea is a "notebook".

You'll never be able type very fast on this keyboard-tablet thingy. As stated, people might as well use the touch screen and get the same performance. There are keyboards for the iPad... so a real physical keyboard is still the best way.

Even voice recognition doesn't replace the keyboard. WHile it may give you a break - do you really want to talk for hours... when you could be typing?